Monocular Modes for Autonomous Platform Guidance Systems with Auxiliary Sensors

ABSTRACT

The described positional awareness techniques employing sensory data gathering and analysis hardware with reference to specific example implementations implement improvements in the use of sensors, techniques and hardware design that can enable specific embodiments to provide positional awareness to machines with improved speed and accuracy. The sensory data are gathered from an operational camera and one or more auxiliary sensors.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO OTHER APPLICATIONS

The following U.S. patent applications are incorporated by reference herein: U.S. Nonprovisional application Ser. No. 15/250,419, filed Aug. 29, 2016 (Atty. Docket No.: PERC 1000-1), U.S. Nonprovisional application Ser. No. 15/250,393 filed Aug. 29, 2016 (Atty. Docket No.: PERC 1001-1), and U.S. Nonprovisional application Ser. No. 15/250,581 filed Aug. 29, 2016 (Atty. Docket No.: PERC 1002-1).

FIELD OF THE TECHNOLOGY DISCLOSED

The technology disclosed generally relates to detecting location and positioning of a mobile device, and more particularly relates to application of visual processing, inertial sensor data and wheel odometry data to positioning and guidance technologies.

BACKGROUND

The subject matter discussed in this section should not be assumed to be prior art merely as a result of its mention in this section. Similarly, a problem mentioned in this section or associated with the subject matter provided as background should not be assumed to have been previously recognized in the prior art. The subject matter in this section merely represents different approaches, which in and of themselves can also correspond to implementations of the claimed technology.

Autonomous robots have long been the stuff of science fiction fantasy. One technical challenge in realizing the truly autonomous robot is the need for the robot to be able to identify where they are, where they have been and plan where they are going. Traditional Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) techniques have improved greatly in recent years; however, there remains considerable technical challenge to providing fast accurate and reliable positional awareness to robots and self-guiding mobile platforms.

One especially challenging area involves recognizing a location and obstructions accurately and quickly. A variety of different approaches have been tried. For example RFID/WiFi approaches have proven to be expensive and of limited accuracy. Depth sensor based approaches have been found to be high cost and suffer from power drain and interference issues. Marker based approaches require markers placed within the work area—limiting the useful area in which the device can operate. Visual approaches currently are slow leading to failure when used in fast motion applications. Such approaches can also suffer scale ambiguity. Yet these implementations failed to live up to the standards required for widespread adoption.

The challenge of providing fast reliable affordable positional awareness to devices heretofore remained largely unsolved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, like reference characters generally refer to like parts throughout the different views. Also, the drawings are not necessarily to scale, with an emphasis instead generally being placed upon illustrating the principles of the technology disclosed. In the following description, various implementations of the technology disclosed are described with reference to the following drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a control unit for a monocular-auxiliary sensor.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of an imaging component in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates a method of operation of the feature buffer in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of an inertial component in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of an odometry component in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a monocular-auxiliary sensor where an inertial measurement unit is used as an auxiliary sensor.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example of a monocular-auxiliary sensor where a wheel odometry unit is used as an auxiliary sensor.

FIG. 8 illustrates an example of a monocular-auxiliary sensor where an inertial measurement unit and a wheel odometry unit are used as auxiliary sensors.

FIG. 9 illustrates an example of a binocular-auxiliary sensor with one operational camera where an inertial measurement unit and a wheel odometry unit are used as auxiliary sensors.

FIG. 10 illustrates an example of a monocular-auxiliary sensory system.

FIG. 11 illustrates an example tracking system implementing the tracking process.

FIG. 12 is a representative method of updating a position of a mobile unit that includes a camera and a multi-axis inertial measuring unit.

FIG. 13 is a representative method of updating a position of a mobile unit that includes a camera and a wheel odometry unit.

FIG. 14 is a representative method of updating a position of a mobile unit that includes a camera, an inertial measuring unit and a wheel odometry unit.

FIG. 15 is a representative method of updating a position of a mobile unit that includes a camera with a depth sensor.

FIG. 16A illustrates an example relocalization process for a tracking system implementing the tracking process.

FIG. 16B illustrates an example of a relocalization search strategy selection process in one implementation.

FIG. 17 illustrates an example of an occupancy grid map in one implementation.

FIG. 18 illustrates an example of reprojection error.

FIG. 19 illustrates an example robot guidance application in which one implementation can be embodied.

FIG. 20 is a representative method of guiding a mobile device using information from a camera and one or more auxiliary sensors.

FIG. 21 is a representative method of using a hybrid point grid to guide a mobile device that includes a camera and one or more auxiliary sensors.

DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description is made with reference to the figures. Sample implementations are described to illustrate the technology disclosed, not to limit its scope, which is defined by the claims. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize a variety of equivalent variations on the description that follows.

The discussion is organized as follows. First, an introduction describing some of the problems addressed by various implementations will be presented. Then, a high-level description of one implementation will be discussed at an architectural level. Next, the processes used by some implementations to efficiently process image and data from the auxiliary sensors are discussed. Lastly, the technology disclosed will be illustrated with reference to particular applications of a robot in a self-guided autonomous platform. The references to specific examples are intended to be illustrative of the approaches disclosed herein rather than limiting.

This document describes positional awareness techniques employed by a mobile unit by using visual sensory data from one operational camera. In one embodiment, the mobile unit is a monocular system. One of the main reasons that monocular mobile units are preferred for positional awareness is because they are cheaper and physically smaller than multiple-camera systems. In another embodiment, a mobile unit with a plurality of cameras can have only one functioning camera. The other cameras in the multiple-camera system can be inoperative due to hardware or software malfunctions, obstruction of view, etc. As used herein, the term “monocular” will be used to describe any system with one operational camera.

When a monocular mobile unit moves, images taken before and after the movement can be analyzed to estimate the direction of the movement. This process is known as stereo matching. The working assumption is that the camera translates in space over time. Therefore, the pair of consecutive frames can be compared by extracting and matching key features in the frames. One main limitation of stereo matching is the inaccurate estimation of the absolute depth scale or magnitude of the movement of the mobile unit. Indeed, even if camera pose estimation and scene reconstruction are carried out accurately, the absolute depth scale of such reconstruction remains inherently ambiguous. Some approaches suggest solving the issue via object detection by matching the scene with a pre-defined set of 3D models, so to recover the initial depth scale based on the estimated object size, which nevertheless fails in absence of known shapes in the scene.

Data from one or more auxiliary sensors can be used to estimate the depth or magnitude of the movement. In one embodiment, the auxiliary sensor can be a multi-axis inertial measurement unit (IMU), which measures and reports the mobile unit's linear acceleration using one or more accelerometers and rotational rate using one or more gyroscopes. In one embodiment, the auxiliary sensor can be a wheel odometry unit (WOU), which measures and reports the mobile unit's displacement from the encoder readings of the mobile unit's wheels. In one embodiment, the mobile unit can have two auxiliary sensors, an IMU and a WOU. In one embodiment, the auxiliary sensor can be a depth sensor. The position of the mobile unit on the global map is determined after the displacement inferred by the camera is calibrated by the displacement inferred by the auxiliary sensors.

The camera or the imaging sensor in the monocular system can be RGB or grayscale. Using low-end imaging sensors to construct a sensor, e.g., cameras having resolution of 640×480, obviates the cost of high-end image sensors.

Examples of robot applications that benefit from employing positional awareness techniques such as described herein include:

-   -   Caregiver and Service robots (traveling on a ground plane)     -   A robot vacuuming/mopping/cleaning the floor.     -   A robot being commanded to carry objects around the environment.     -   A telepresence robot moving around a remote environment         automatically.     -   A robot butler that follows a person around.

The positional awareness techniques described herein can also be used in Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) scenarios, where a wearable headset tracks its own location, and is able to recognize the objects that it encounters.

In each of the scenarios listed above, the robot utilizes the techniques described herein in order to track its own location and to recognize the objects that it encounters. Also, since the robot performs many complex tasks, each with real-time constraints, it is beneficial that the sensing be done rapidly to accelerate the perception pipeline. To overcome the computational burden imposed by this processing, implementations offload some computation with regards to image processing from the main processor to an imaging component or a digital signal processor. In addition, since it is a mobile robot, which carries limited battery, energy consumption is a major challenge. Accordingly, some implementations offload some computational tasks from the main processor to a low-power sensor module, thereby enabling implementations to achieve overall energy efficiency.

Examples of systems, apparatus, and methods according to the disclosed implementations are described in a robot guidance context. In other instances, the technology disclosed can be applied to autonomous vehicle guidance technology, VR and AR wearable devices, navigation, telecommunications systems, financial systems, security trading, banking, business intelligence, marketing, mining, energy, etc. and using sonar, audio, and LIDAR data. Other services are possible, such that the following examples should not be taken as definitive or limiting either in scope, context, or setting.

The technology disclosed relates to improving utilization of computing resources such as computational power and memory use during processing of image and data from auxiliary sensors inside a single input-multiple data (SIMD) architecture. The technology disclosed can be implemented in the context of any computer-implemented system including a reduced instruction set (RISC) system, emulated hardware environment, or the like. Moreover, this technology can be implemented using two or more separate and distinct computer-implemented systems that cooperate and communicate with one another. This technology can be implemented in numerous ways, including as a process, a method, an apparatus, a system, a device, a computer readable medium such as a computer readable storage medium that stores computer readable instructions or computer program code, or as a computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having a computer readable program code embodied therein.

The technology disclosed can be implemented in the context of any computer-implemented system like a NEON ARM VFP9-S processor, an ARM core processor, or a compatible processor implementation.

In addition, the technology disclosed can be implemented using a variety of different imaging sensors and technologies, including RGB, grayscale, binary (e.g., digital image subjected to threshold intensity level), IR, sonar, LIDAR or combinations thereof.

System Overview

Control Unit for the Monocular-Auxiliary Sensor

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a Control Unit for a monocular-auxiliary sensor in block diagram format. Control Unit 100 in FIG. 1 can be coupled to an external memory 110, a flash memory (not shown in FIG. 1 for clarity sake), and one or more persistent storages such as HDDs, optical drives or the like (also not shown in FIG. 1 for clarity sake). Control Unit 100 includes a memory cache 108, a USB I/O port 102, a Camera Serial Interface (CSI) I/O port 116, that facilitates directly receiving images from cameras (not shown in FIG. 1 for clarity sake) by imaging component 118, an Inter-Integrated Circuit (I2C) I/O ports 104, a single instruction multiple-data (SIMD) capable processor 106, and a feature buffer 120. The components in the Control Unit 100 are intercoupled by a local bus 107. In an embodiment, the external memory 110 is a 64-bit double data rate (DDR) random access memory (RAM). In an embodiment, the SIMD capable processor 106 is implemented as a reduced instruction set computer (RISC) architecture. In an embodiment, the SIMD capable processor 106 is implemented as a NEON ARM VFP9-S. An inertial component 112 and an odometry component 114 reside within the memory cache 108.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of an imaging component 118 in FIG. 1. An Imaging component 118 includes a direct memory access (DMA) 202, an image undistortion processor 204, a Shi-Tomasi processor 206, a feature undistortion processor 208, a feature description engine 210, and an optical flow feature correspondence processor 212 under control of an Imaging Engine 214.

If each incoming image from the visual sensor or camera through Camera Serial Interface (CSI) I/O port 116 is at least 3 MB and 30 images per second are captured, then there is at least 90 MB of memory allocation per second for the incoming images. To process the rather large amount of visual data with a short period of time, frames captured by the camera in the monocular-auxiliary sensor can be directly processed by the imaging component 118 to extract useful corner features and generates a descriptor for each feature. Imaging engine 214 can be implemented as a Digital Signal Processor (DSP). The imaging component 118 directly processes the incoming images without involving the SIMD processor 106 or storing the image data in the cache 108. In some implementations, the incoming image size is at least 2 MB. In some implementations, the incoming image size is at least 1 MB. In some implementations, the images may be arriving at the rate of 20 images per second through the Camera Serial Interface (CSI) I/O port.

After the incoming images are analyzed and key features are extracted by the imaging component 118, a feature buffer 120 stores the extracted features. In some implementations, the feature buffer includes banks to contain 2-5 KB of feature data per image frame. In some implementations, the feature buffer includes banks to contain 1-10 KB of feature data per image frame. The feature buffer 120 comprises of bank 1 122, bank 2 124 and a feature buffer controller 126. FIG. 3 illustrates a method of operation 300 of the feature buffer 120. The imaging component 118 can write data to either bank 1 (step 302) or bank 2 (step 314), but not concurrently. If the imaging component 118 is currently writing data to bank 1 and bank 1 becomes full (step 304), the feature buffer controller 126 notifies the SIMD processor 106 (step 306) that bank 1 is full. Meanwhile, the imaging component 118 starts writing data to bank 2 (step 314). The SIMD processor locks bank 1 (step 308), copies the data in bank 1 to the L0 cache available inside the SIMD processor (step 310), and releases bank 1 (step 312). If bank 2 becomes full (step 316), the feature buffer controller 126 notifies the SIMD processor 106 about the filled bank 2 (step 318), and the imaging component 118 starts writing data to bank 1 (step 302). The SIMD processor locks bank 2 (step 320), copies the data in bank 2 to the L0 cache available inside the SIMD processor (step 322), and releases bank 2 (step 324). Of course other implementations in which additional banks are employed will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of an inertial component 112 in FIG. 1. The Inertial component 112 includes an Inertial Measurement engine 402 that implements a time stamping processor 404 that time stamps sets of inertial data from an inertial sensor (not shown in FIG. 1 for clarity sake), a bias correction processor 406 that corrects data readout from the timestamped inertial data, a scale correction processor 408 that applies stored scale factor information to the corrected inertial data, a mis-alignment correction processor 410 that corrects misalignments of sensory elements of the inertial measurement sensor, and an IMU-Image coordinate transformation processor 412 that computes transformations describing differences between a frame of reference of the inertial data and a frame of reference of the image data.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of an odometry component 114 in FIG. 1. The Odometry component 114 includes a Wheel Odometry Unit engine 502 that implements a time stamping processor 504 that time stamps sets of odometry data from mobile unit's rotary encoder (not shown in FIG. 1 for clarity sake), a slippage adjuster 506 that corrects data readout from the timestamped odometry data, and a scale correction processor 508 that applies stored scale factor information to the corrected odometry data. Implementations can detect variations in current demand of one or more motors driving a mobile platform and compare with data from the mobile unit's rotary encoder to determine whether a slippage state exists. When a slippage state is detected, the slippage adjuster 506 and the scale correction processor 508 can take action to remedy the slippage. Actions can include marking the odometry data as unreliable, applying a correction factor to the odometry data based upon a duration of slippage state. Other actions can be applied either instead of or in addition to the foregoing as apparent to a person skilled in the art.

Monocular-Auxiliary Sensor

FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a monocular-auxiliary sensor 600 for determining positional information where the auxiliary sensor is an inertial measurement unit. The monocular-auxiliary sensor 600 includes a camera 602, an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) 606, and a Control Unit (CU) 100. The Control Unit 100 has a USB interface to provide output to a host. Images from camera 602 are used for agent localization that extracts features from images and to provide raw information for deep learning based tasks, including object recognition, object tracking, image captioning, and the like.

An IMU 606 provides raw sensor data for agent localization pipeline, which consumes IMU data at a high frequency (>200 Hz) to generate agent positional information in real-time. In an implementation, the localization pipeline combines information from IMU 606 which runs at relatively high frequency to provide frequent updates of less accurate information, and camera 602, which run at relatively lower frequency, 30 Hz, to provide more accurate information with less frequency.

The Control Unit 100 performs control of the sensors, IMU 606 and camera 602, time stamping sensor data from the sensors, performs pre-computation in order to accelerate the localization pipeline, and packages raw data for sending over USB 102 to a host.

The USB interface 102 enables the monocular-auxiliary sensor 600 to interact with a host. The host (not shown in FIG. 6 for clarity sake) can be a mobile device or a desktop/laptop computer, specialized machine controller, automobile control module, robot controller or the like, that consumes the data generated by the monocular-auxiliary sensor 600. In various implementations, the host can perform additional computation to achieve agent localization and deep learning tasks. Implementations that perform data pre-processing on low-power CU 100 relieve the host processor (which has a much higher power consumption compared to low-power CU) from performing these tasks. As a result, such implementations achieve increased energy efficiency.

Note that one implementation averages the aligned images. In other implementations, other techniques are used. Also note that in another implementation an image quality measurement sub-step is included. So if the output image is too dark or still not sharp or clear enough, the image will be rejected and not passed to the rest of the pipeline.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example of a monocular-auxiliary sensor 700 where a wheel odometry unit (WOU) 702 is used for determining positional information instead of an inertial measurement unit. A WOU 702 provides raw sensor data for agent localization pipeline from the mobile unit's wheel rotary encoder to generate agent positional information in real-time.

FIG. 8 illustrates an example of a monocular-auxiliary sensor 800 combined with an inertial measurement unit 606 and a wheel odometry unit 702. In this embodiment, sensor data from both the inertial measurement unit 606 and the wheel odometry unit 702 are used to calibrate data from the camera to determine the position of the mobile unit on the global map.

FIG. 9 illustrates an example of a binocular sensor 900 combined with an inertial measurement unit and a wheel odometry unit. The system can be classified as monocular as the binocular sensor has one operational camera 902 and a faulty camera 906. Faulty camera may be experiencing a short term impairment (e.g. change in illumination including reduced intensity, or increased intensity saturating the camera (blooming), dirt or debris or other agent blocking the view of the camera, or the like) or a long term impairment (e.g., hardware failure, persistent signal interference, faulty communications connection, or the like).

In an example of a monocular-auxiliary sensor where the auxiliary sensor is a depth sensor, the auxiliary sensor is usually included with the camera. Therefore, images from camera includes a depth map which is used for agent localization that extracts features from images and to provide raw information for deep learning based tasks, including object recognition, object tracking, image captioning, and the like.

Implementations described herein can be utilized for determining positional information of the mobile unit.

Sensor Data Generation and Processing for the Inertial Measurement Unit

In an embodiment, IMU raw data is corrected on the CU 100, thereby enabling implementations that do not require extra processing from the host processor, therefore accelerating the sensor pre-processing pipeline.

Time Stamping:

The time stamping processor 404 time stamps each set of inertial measurement data that the Control Unit 100 receives from the IMU sensor 606 data, in order to assure that the monocular-auxiliary sensors 600, 800 maintain a temporally accurate stream of sensor data. Such rigorous attention to maintaining the integrity of the sensor data stream enables implementations to provide agent localization that works reliably. Time-stamping raw data by the monocular-auxiliary sensor obviates the need for complex synchronization tasks.

Bias Correction:

The bias correction processor 406 corrects IMU data readout from the timestamped inertial data. Due to manufacturing imperfections, IMU sensors usually have bias problems such that its measurements contain errors. A bias error, if not removed from the measurement, is integrated twice as part of the mechanization process. In this case, a constant bias (error) in acceleration becomes a linear error in velocity and a quadratic error in position. A constant bias in attitude rate (gyro) becomes a quadratic error in velocity and a cubic error in position. The bias can be derived from the offline factory sensor calibration stage. This calibration information in CU 100 to perform bias correction task on CU 100.

Scale Correction:

The scale correction processor 408 applies stored scale factor information to the corrected inertial data. Scale factor error is the relation between input and output. If the input is 100%, the expected output is 100%. The actual output is the result of a linear effect, where the output is proportional to the input but scaled. For example, if the input is 10 m/s2, but there is a 2% scale factor error, the output measurement is 10.2 m/s2. The scale factor can be derived from the offline factory sensor calibration stage. This calibration information in CU 100 to perform scale correction task on CU 100.

Misalignment Correction:

The mis-alignment correction processor 410 corrects misalignments of sensory elements of the inertial measurement sensor. There is a 3-axis gyroscope and a 3-axis accelerometer mounted orthogonal to each other. The mountings, however, have errors and so are not perfectly at 90 degrees. This leads to a correlation between sensors. For example, assume one axis is pointed perfectly up and the IMU is level. The accelerometer on this axis is measuring gravity. If the other two axes were perfectly orthogonal, they do not measure any of the effect of gravity. If there is a non-orthogonality, the other axes also measure gravity, leading to a correlation in the measurements. The effect of non-orthogonality occurs within sensor sets (between accelerometers or gyroscopes), between sensor sets or between the sensor sets and the enclosure (package misalignment). Careful manufacturing, as well as factory calibration, can help minimize this error source. Continuous estimation and correction during system operation is also an approach used to minimize this effect. Package misalignment (between the IMU 606 and the enclosure) can be removed by performing a bore-sighting estimation to determine the offset between the IMU 606 measurement frame and the sensor (objective) frame. The misalignment numbers can be derived from the offline factory sensor calibration stage. This calibration information in CU 100 to perform misalignment correction task on CU 100.

IMU-Camera Coordinate Transformation:

In some implementations, the IMU 606 and the camera 602 do not reside at the same physical location; there is a distance between the IMU 606 and the cameras 602. Accordingly, in order to enable later processes in the localization pipeline to treat the IMU 606 and the camera 602 as being co-located, on implementation determines a transformation matrix between the IMU 606 and the cameras 602, which can be achieved from an offline production or post-production calibration stage. In CU 100, this transformation matrix is stored locally, and applied to the IMU data. This technique enables later processes to be able to treat the IMU 606 and the camera 602 to be co-located

Sensor Data Generation and Processing for the Wheel Odometry Unit

In an embodiment, WOU raw data is corrected on the CU 100, thereby enabling implementations that do not require extra processing from the host processor, therefore accelerating the sensor pre-processing pipeline.

Time Stamping:

The time stamping processor 504 time stamps each set of odometry measurement data that the Control Unit 100 receives from the WOU sensor 702 data, in order to assure that the monocular-auxiliary sensors 600,800 maintain a temporally accurate stream of sensor data. Time-stamping raw data by the monocular-auxiliary sensor obviates the need for complex synchronization tasks.

Slippage Adjuster:

When driving over low-traction terrain, deformable terrain, steep hills, or during collisions with obstacles, the position of monocular-auxiliary sensor with WOU as an auxiliary unit can quickly accumulate large errors due to wheel slippage. With inaccurate odometry data, the mobile unit's final position can be overestimated. The slippage adjuster 506 corrects WOU data readout from the timestamped odometry data.

Scale Correction:

The scale correction processor 508 applies stored scale factor information to the corrected odometry data. Scale factor error is the relation between input and output. If the input is 100%, the expected output is 100%. The actual output is the result of a linear effect, where the output is proportional to the input but scaled. For example, if the input is 1 cm, but there is a 5% scale factor error, the output measurement is 1.05 cm. The scale factor can be derived from the offline factory sensor calibration stage. This calibration information in CU 100 to perform scale correction task on CU 100.

Sensor Visual Data Generation and Processing

Image Undistortion:

The image undistortion processor 204 corrects distortion in the image data in the captured frames. The image distortion is generally referred to an optical aberration that deforms and bends physically straight lines and makes them appear curvy in images. Optical distortion occurs as a result of optical design. In order to achieve reliable computer vision results, image undistortion processor 204 can un-distort the image before further processing is performed. This can be achieved by using a lookup table of the size of the input image, and performing a remapping operation to undistort the whole image.

Feature Undistortion:

In cases when the remaining portions of the processing pipeline do not require the whole image, but only the feature points within the image, the feature undistortion processor 208 perform a feature undistortion operation on the CU. In detail, this operation runs after the feature extraction stage, and undistorts each feature point.

Feature Detection:

The Shi-Tomasi processor 206 performs feature detection upon image frames.

Features are “interesting” parts of an image. The Shi-Tomasi feature detection includes methods that aim at computing abstractions of image information and making local decisions at every image point whether there is an image feature of a given type at that point or not. The resulting features will be subsets of the image domain, often in the form of isolated points. Some implementations perform the feature detection on the CU 100 to relieve the host from performing such tasks, and to accelerate the feature detection process. Accordingly, in an implementation, processing includes:

-   -   Action 1: calculate Eigen value for each pixel and determine (i)         whether the feature is of interest; and (ii) for features of         interest, a type of feature:         -   two small Eigen values: feature is not interesting         -   one small, one big value: feature is likely an edge         -   two big values: feature is likely a corner         -   other type of features     -   Action 2: refine         -   Apply non-maximum suppression         -   Apply spatial binning         -   Apply heuristics         -   Apply other types of refinement

Feature Description:

The feature description engine 210 performs feature description on detected features. The feature description includes methods to uniquely identify each detected points in an image. Feature description can be used to compare and match feature points between different images. Some implementations perform the feature description on the CU 100 to relieve the host from performing such tasks, and to accelerate the feature description process.

One implementation of feature description engine 210 uses a SIMD-accelerated ORB descriptor to describe features. The description of a feature can be used for matching purposes and describing a feature's uniqueness. The ORB descriptor approach was selected for its relative rotational invariance and immunity to Gaussian image noise. One example of an ORB feature detector and binary descriptor can be found at “ORB feature detector and binary descriptor”, http://scikit-image.org/docs/dev/auto examples/plot_orb.html (last accessed Aug. 17, 2016). For further information on ORB Descriptor, reference may be had to Ethan Rublee, et al., “ORB: an efficient alternative to SIFT or SURF”, which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. 2D Feature Correspondence Generation:

The optical flow feature correspondence processor 212 performs 2D feature correspondence generation for the features. The feature correspondence computation is used to identify the feature points that appear in both the left and the right cameras. Once feature correspondence is identified for any two feature points, triangulation can be applied to the feature points to derive the depth of the point in space. This depth information is employed by processes later in the localization pipeline. Some implementations perform the feature correspondence generation on the CU 100 to relieve the host from performing such tasks, and to accelerate the feature correspondence generation.

One optical flow feature correspondence processor 212 implementation employs optical flow methods to calculate the motion between two image frames, taken at times t and t+Δt at each voxel position. One such method, called a differential method, is based on local Taylor series approximations of the image signal, using partial derivatives with respect to the spatial and temporal coordinates. Accordingly, in an implementation, processing includes:

-   -   Input: last image, current image, a list of detected feature         locations from the last image,     -   Output: a list of locations of the last image's detected         features' in the current image     -   Assumption: brightness consistency, image changes by and only by         motion     -   Action 1: predict the output locations by either just assuming         there is no motion so the current locations are the same as last         frame's feature locations, OR use information retrieved from the         auxiliary sensors to predict the locations.     -   Action 2: refine the pixel coordinate for each feature point by         searching around the predicted location, matching patches, and         using matching score to determine the refined position.         Accordingly, the technology disclosed can provide         implementations with the ability to gain increased performance         by using information from the auxiliary to narrow the search and         save time.

Referring now to FIG. 10, which shows a simplified block diagram of a monocular-auxiliary positioning system 1000 which can be used to implement monocular-auxiliary sensors 600, 700 and 800. Monocular-auxiliary positioning system 1000 includes a processor 1032, a memory 1034, an inertial measurement unit (IMU) 606, a wheel odometry unit (WOU) 702, a camera 602, and a communications interface 1042. One or more additional I/O features 1036 are included to address implementation specific needs, such as a visual presentation interface 1078, an audio presentation interface 1079, sensor(s) for detecting tactile input (e.g., keyboards, keypads, touchpads, mouse, trackball, joystick and the like) 1080, and non-tactile input (e.g., microphone(s), sonar sensors and the like) 1082. Memory 1034 can be used to store instructions to be executed by processor 1032 as well as input and/or output data associated with execution of the instructions. In particular, memory 1034 contains instructions, conceptually illustrated as a group of modules described in greater detail below, that control the operation of processor 1032 and its interaction with the other hardware components. An operating system directs the execution of low-level, basic system functions such as memory allocation, file management and operation of mass storage devices. The operating system may be or include a variety of operating systems such as Microsoft WINDOWS™ operating system, the Unix™ operating system, the Linux™ operating system, the Xenix™ operating system, the IBM AIX™ operating system, the Hewlett Packard UX™ operating system, the Novell NETWARE™ operating system, the Sun Microsystems SOLARIS™ operating system, the OS/2™ operating system, the BeOS™ operating system, the MACINTOSH™ operating system, the APACHE™ operating system, an OPENACTION™ operating system, iOS™, Android or other mobile operating systems, or another operating system of platform.

The computing environment may also include other removable/non-removable, volatile/nonvolatile computer storage media. For example, a hard disk drive may read or write to non-removable, nonvolatile magnetic media. A magnetic disk drive may read from or write to a removable, nonvolatile magnetic disk, and an optical disk drive may read from or write to a removable, nonvolatile optical disk such as a CD-ROM or other optical media. Other removable/non-removable, volatile/nonvolatile computer storage media that can be used in the exemplary operating environment include, but are not limited to, magnetic tape cassettes, flash memory cards, digital versatile disks, digital video tape, solid state RAM, solid state ROM, and the like. The storage media are typically connected to the system bus through a removable or non-removable memory interface.

In an embodiment, the processor 1032 is a NEON ARM processor implementing a single input-multiple data (SIMD) architecture as a reduced instruction set computer (RISC) architecture. Depending on implementation, however, processor 1032 can alternatively be a realized using a specific purpose microcontroller, peripheral integrated circuit element, a CSIC (customer-specific integrated circuit), an ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit), a logic circuit, a digital signal processor, a programmable logic device such as an FPGA (field-programmable gate array), a PLD (programmable logic device), a PLA (programmable logic array), an RFID processor, smart chip, or any other device or arrangement of devices that are capable of implementing the actions of the processes of the technology disclosed.

Communications interface 1042 can include hardware and/or software that enables communication between monocular-auxiliary positioning system 1000 and other systems controlling or enabling customer hardware and applications (hereinafter, a “host system” or “host”) such as for example, a robot or other guided mobile platform, an autonomous vehicle, a virtual reality-augmented reality wearable device (VR/AR headset) or the like (not shown in FIG. 10 for clarity sake). Camera 602, as well as sensors such as IMU 606 and WOU 702, can be coupled to processor 1032 via a variety of communications interfaces and protocols implemented by hardware and software combinations. Thus, for example, positioning system 1000 can include one or more camera data ports and/or motion detector ports (not shown in FIG. 10 for clarity sake) to which the cameras and motion detectors can be connected (via conventional plugs and jacks), as well as hardware and/or software signal processors to modify data signals received from the cameras and motion detectors (e.g., to reduce noise or reformat data) prior to providing the signals as inputs to a fast accurate stable adaptive tracking (“FASAT”) process 1044 executing on processor 1032. In some implementations, monocular-auxiliary positioning system 1000 can also transmit signals to the cameras and sensors, e.g., to activate or deactivate them, to control camera settings (frame rate, image quality, sensitivity, etc.), to control sensor settings (calibration, sensitivity levels, etc.), or the like. Such signals can be transmitted, e.g., in response to control signals from processor 1032, which may in turn be generated in response to user input or other detected events.

Instructions defining FASAT process 1044 are stored in memory 1034, and these instructions, when executed, perform analysis on image frames captured by the camera 602, inertial data captured by the IMU 606 and the odometry data captured by the WOU 702 connected to monocular-auxiliary positioning system 1000. In one implementation, FASAT process 1044 includes various logical processes, such as a feature extractor 1052 that receives a raw image and determines a salient points' representation of objects in the image thereby representing the geometry understanding of the objects from a machine's perspective view. In some implementations, feature extractor 1052 analyzes images (e.g., image frames captured via camera 602) to detect edges of an object therein and/or other information about the object's location. A sensor fusion tracking process 1054 uses feature extraction results, inertial data from IMU 606 and the odometry data from the WOU 702 to generate pose accurately and rapidly. A smart interaction map 1056 enables using a known map of obstructions to localize the sensor. The map is built using mapping functionality of mapping process 1092, which is described in further detail herein below. A Re-localizer process 1058 recovers device positional awareness when the device has lost track of device position. A system diagnostic and response (SDAR) 1066 manages of current localizing state of the device and provide response strategy.

A mapping process 1092 generates a hybrid occupancy grid that maps the space and objects recognized by the feature extractor 1052. The hybrid occupancy grid includes (i) a point cloud representation of points in space located in the image frames and (ii) one or more x-y plane occupancy grids arranged at heights to intersect points on the extracted features.

In some implementations, other processing 1094 analyzes audio or ultrasonic signals (e.g., audio signals captured via sonar or audio sensors comprising non-tactile input 1082) to localize objects and obstructions by, for example, time distance of arrival, multilateration or the like (“Multilateration is a navigation technique based on the measurement of the difference in distance to two or more stations at known locations that broadcast signals at known times. See Wikipedia, at <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Multilateration&oldid=523281858>, on Nov. 16, 2012, 06:07 UTC). Audio signals place the object on a known surface, and the strength and variation of the signals can be used to detect object's presence. If both audio and image information is simultaneously available, both types of information can be analyzed and reconciled to produce a more detailed and/or accurate path analysis.

In some implementations, other processing 1094 determines paths to track and predict device movements in space based upon the hybrid occupancy grid generated by mapping process 1092. One or more applications 1096 can be loaded into memory 1034 (or otherwise made available to processor 1032) to augment or customize functioning of the monocular sensors thereby enabling the system 1000 to function as a platform. Successive camera images are analyzed at the pixel level to extract object movements and velocities. In some implementations, presentation interface 1078 includes a video feed integrator provides integration of live video feed from the camera 602 and one or more virtual objects. Video feed integrator governs processing of video information from disparate types of camera 602. For example, information received from pixels that provide monochromatic imaging and from pixels that provide color imaging (e.g., RGB) can be separated by integrator and processed differently. Information from one type of sensor can be used to enhance, correct, and/or corroborate information from another type of sensor. Information from one type of sensor can be favored in some types of situational or environmental conditions (e.g., low light, fog, bright light, and so forth). The device can select between providing presentation output based upon one or the other types of image information, either automatically or by receiving a selection from the user.

Presentation interface 1078, audio presentation 1079, non-tactile input 1082, and communications interface 1042 can be used to facilitate user interaction via a monocular sensor with monocular-auxiliary positioning system 1000. These components can be of highly customized design, generally conventional design or combinations thereof as desired to provide any type of user interaction. In some implementations, results of analyzing captured images using inertial measuring unit 606, wheel odometry unit 702 and camera 602 and FASAT program 1044 can be interpreted as representing objects and obstacles in 3D space. For example, a robot equipped with monocular-auxiliary sensor can perform path planning and/or obstacle avoidance across a surface that has been analyzed using FASAT program 1044, and the results of this analysis can be interpreted as an occupancy map by some other program executing on processor 1032 (e.g., a motion planner, localization and tracking process, or other application). Thus, by way of illustration, a robot might use sweeping of camera 602 across a room in order to “map” a space currently imaged to a hybrid point grid that can be used by a host device such as a monitor, VR headset or the like via presentation interface 1078, to provide visual input of the area that the robot is “seeing”. Smart interaction map 1056 may use the representation of space built by mapping 1092 to plan a path for a robot or mobile platform through the space, e.g., to improve localization and tracking of the robot or platform through the space.

It will be appreciated that the monocular-auxiliary positioning system 1000 is illustrative and that variations and modifications are possible. monocular-auxiliary positioning systems can be implemented in a variety of form factors, including “cloud” computing systems of servers and networks, desktop systems, laptop systems, tablets, smart phones or personal digital assistants, and so on. A particular implementation may include other functionality not described herein for clarity sake. In some implementations, one or more cameras and two or more microphones may be built into the monocular-auxiliary system 1000 or may be supplied as separate components. Further, an image or audio analyzer can be implemented using only a subset of monocular-auxiliary positioning system 1000 components (e.g., as a processor executing program code, an ASIC, or a fixed-function digital signal processor, with suitable I/O interfaces to receive image data and output analysis results).

While monocular-auxiliary positioning system 1000 is described herein with reference to particular blocks, it is to be understood that the blocks are defined for convenience of description and are not intended to imply a particular physical arrangement of component parts. Further, the blocks need not correspond to physically distinct components. To the extent that physically distinct components are used, connections between components (e.g., for data communication) can be wired and/or wireless as desired. Thus, for example, execution of feature extractor 1052 by processor 1032 can cause processor 1032 to operate inertial measurement unit 606 and camera 602 to capture images and/or audio signals of an object traveling across and in contact with a surface to detect its entrance by analyzing the image and/or audio data.

Tracking

Tracking refers to capabilities rendered by system hardware and functional processes that enable a controlled device (robot, mobile platform, or VR/AR headset, goggles, or other hardware) to continuously localize itself and have positional awareness e.g., the sensor system can determine where it is in the real world.

Architecture for Tracking System

FIG. 11 illustrates example architecture for a tracking system implementation. As shown in FIG. 11, components and information flows between components of an example fast accurate stable adaptive tracking (“FASAT”) process 1044 of FIG. 11 are illustrated by feature extractor (FE) 1102, sensor fusion based tracker (SFT) 1111, smart interaction with map (SIM) processor 1114, a system diagnostics and response (SDAR) processor 1103 and a Re-locator (RELOC) 1122. The data flows and operation of one example implementation of these components will next be described.

Feature Extraction

A feature extractor (FE) 1102 represents the geometric understanding of a space from a machine's perspective view. Feature extractor 1102 receives raw image information from Control Unit 100 and provides a salient points' representation hybrid point cloud map to a sensor fusion tracker (SFT) 1111. One implementation of a feature extractor 1102 performs a variety of actions including image preprocessing, feature detection, and feature descriptor preparation.

Image processing tasks include performing Gaussian blur and gamma correction on raw image data.

Feature Detection: Optical Flow

Optical flow gives 2D-2D correspondence between previous image and a current image. Feature extractor 1102 generates a hierarchy of levels; each level generation is aligned with optical flow needs, and therefore need only be computed once.

Processed images are stored in a multiple hierarchical patch and/or undistorted patch. In an example implementation, as levels in the hierarchy increase, the more blur exists in the image. At each level in the hierarchy, the size of the image is reduced to ¼ of the size of the image from which it is derived, e.g. the size of the image in the previous level. For example, if an image on the first (“zero level”) has a size 640×480, then the size of the corresponding image on the next higher level (“first level”) has a size 320×240, and a next corresponding image at the next higher level (“second level”) has a size 160×120. If the same feature point appears at more than one level, then that feature point is determined by the system to be a strong feature point. In the foregoing example, a scale factor of 2 is used, however, any scale factor can be selected, e.g., a scale factor of 1.6 provides the original 640×480 image with a next level image having a resolution of 400×300.

One feature extractor 1102 implementation employs optical flow methods to calculate the motion between two image frames, taken at times t and t+Δt at each voxel position. One such method, called a differential method, is based on local Taylor series approximations of the image signal, using partial derivatives with respect to the spatial and temporal coordinates. Accordingly, in an implementation, processing includes:

-   -   Input: last image, current image, a list of detected feature         locations from the last image,     -   Output: a list of locations of the last image's detected         features' in the current image     -   Assumption: brightness consistency, image changes by and only by         motion     -   Action 1: predict the output locations by either just assuming         there is no motion so the current locations are the same as last         frame's feature locations, OR use information retrieved from one         or more auxiliary sensors to predict the locations.     -   Action 2: refine the pixel coordinate for each feature point by         searching around the predicted location, matching patches, and         using matching score to determine the refined position.         Accordingly, the technology disclosed can provide         implementations with the ability to gain increased performance         by using information from one or more auxiliary sensors to         narrow the search and save time.

Feature Detection: Shi-Tomasi

One implementation of feature extraction processor 1102 uses NEON-accelerated Shi-Tomasi feature detection with spatial binning in order to obtain features from regions to cover as much as possible for the full image. The feature extractor 1102 uses data from one or more auxiliary sensors and the pose information received from sensor fusion tracker 1111 in order to dynamically decide the regions to track and the parameters to use. Features are “interesting” parts of an image. Accordingly, in an implementation, processing includes:

-   -   Action 1: calculate Eigen value of the intensity value of each         pixel and its surrounding pixels; and determine (i) whether the         feature is of interest; and (ii) for features of interest, a         type of feature         -   two small Eigen values: feature is not interesting         -   one small, one big value: feature is likely an edge         -   two big values: feature is likely a corner         -   other type of features     -   Action 2: refine         -   Apply non-maximum suppression         -   Apply spatial binning         -   Apply heuristics         -   Apply other types of refinement

Feature Descriptor: ORB Descriptor

One implementation of feature extractor 1102 uses a SIMD-accelerated ORB descriptor to describe features. The description of a feature can be used for matching purposes and describing a feature's uniqueness. The ORB descriptor approach was selected for its relative rotational invariance and immunity to Gaussian image noise. One example of an ORB feature detector and binary descriptor can be found at “ORB feature detector and binary descriptor”, http://scikit-image.org/docs/dev/auto examples/plot_orb.html (last accessed Aug. 17, 2016). For further information on ORB Descriptor, reference may be had to Ethan Rublee, et al., “ORB: an efficient alternative to SIFT or SURF”, which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

Bag-of-Words

One implementation of feature extractor 1102 performs bag-of-words extraction, determining from one image a byte array, sparse histogram over vocabulary. Accordingly, in an implementation, Bag-of-words processing includes using a list of feature descriptors in one image to extract Bag-of-words feature for one image. For example, in an image having 400 features with 400 corresponding descriptors, and a bag-of-word feature with the size of 256 bits. The resulting Bag-of-words is a 256 bit array, and one image only needs/has one 256 bit array. Bag-of-words is useful in performing relocalization as described herein below in further detail. Bag-of-words can indicate among A, B, C images, an image D has a matching score individually D-A, D-B, D-C. Say for example that D-B has the highest score, then the camera taking image D is closest to the camera pose used when taking image B, not A or C.

One implementation of feature extractor 1102 adaptively adjusts a threshold that is applied to a number of features needed in order for the system to keep track of a moving object. Such intelligent thresholds include a threshold that is adaptively adjusted based upon device movement, sensor readings, situational or environmental variables (e.g., low light, fog, bright light, and so forth) or combinations thereof. Once sufficient number of features (e.g., above the threshold) are identified, the system will continue to track an object. Otherwise, the system does not track the object. Feature extractor 1102 will adaptively adjust the threshold based on device movement and other sensor levels.

SFT: Generating Pose Information from Feature Extraction Results and Data from Auxiliary Sensors

Sensor fusion based tracker (SFT) 1111 determines how to smartly use feature extraction results and data from one or more auxiliary sensors (IMU 606, WOU 702, depth sensor) to generate pose accurately and rapidly. Sensor fusion based tracker 1111 performs initialization for the system state, feature extractor initial state, interaction with map state, and other states. Sensor fusion based tracker 1111 has logic to decide how to initialize the state including use how many images to skip, and any other initialization steps for specific hardware.

In an implementation, sensor fusion based tracker 1111 performs buffer management for the auxiliary sensors. Timestamps of the data from the auxiliary sensors are corrected and aligned. Additionally, data information from the auxiliary sensors that has not been processed yet is maintained in a buffer.

Generating Pose Information for a Monocular-Auxiliary Sensor where an IMU is Used as the Auxiliary Sensor:

Propagation:

Implementations can employ extended Kalman filtering (EKF), shown in a general nonlinear model form by equations (1), to extrapolate an initial pose using inertial data from the multi-axis IMU, to generate a propagated pose:

{dot over (x)}=f(x)+w

z=h(x)+n  (1)

where x denotes a state vector, f denotes a nonlinear function, h denotes observation nonlinear function, n denotes measurement noise, z denotes an observation vector, and w denotes a noise vector.

A linearized version of the discrete-time model of equation (1) is useful for covariance propagation and update, as well as gain computation is illustrated by equations (2):

{tilde over (X)} _(l+1)≅φ_(l) {tilde over (X)} _(l) +w _(l)

{tilde over (r)} _(l) ≅H _(l) {tilde over (X)} _(l) +n _(l)  (2)

In an implementation, IMU data alone is used to perform propagation of the EKF. This enables certain implementations to provide fast results and at relatively low computation costs. An update process described below is employed to correct for “drifting” that occurs when only inertial information is used in the EKF to determine pose. Propagation can be performed in a number of ways: (i) the propagation happens right after an inertial measurement taken by the IMU arrives; or (ii) delayed propagation happens in a batch right after an image taken by the visual sensors arrives but before the update procedure described below is performed.

In some implementations, a motion sensor keeps a window of readings from the accelerometer of the IMU. The motion sensor computes the variance of the accelerations in the window of accelerator readings and determines whether the mobile unit is moving or static, based on the calculated variance. A variance greater than a predetermined threshold variance indicates the mobile unit is moving, and propagation is performed by using the EKF method. A variance smaller than a predetermined threshold variance indicates the mobile unit is static and propagation is performed by using the EKF method assuming zero velocity. The predetermined threshold variance can be estimated by various techniques as readily apparent to those skilled in the art.

Update:

In an implementation, an update process is performed using image information together with IMU buffer samples, which can correct the pose which may be drifted from propagation. In a single observation implementation, based on the current image observation, the information needed for propagation, e.g., features, poses, map points, etc. is prepared. Then 2D-3D correspondence information for the optical flow tracked 2D features is obtained by directly using 2D-2D correspondences from optical flow tracking results. For the remaining 3D map points, smartly search over 3D with adaptive parameters by: (i) if the remaining number of points is small, e.g., below a threshold, perform a linear search, otherwise, (ii) if the remaining number of points is fairly big, e.g., above a threshold, perform a log(n) search with the use of a kd-tree or octree. During search, use previous time period velocity/acceleration to predict a pose so as to narrow the search region. Next, perform update, and generate pose for the current frame using only “good outstanding” points. Alternatively, perform the update twice: first only with high weights “good outstanding” points, then with all the map points. As used herein, the term “good outstanding” points denotes high quality points, e.g., those points having smaller reprojection error and/or being tracked many times in a good state, which can be selected by application of some heuristics.

FIG. 12 is a representative method 1200 of updating a position of a mobile unit that includes a camera and a multi-axis inertial measuring unit. Flowchart 1200 can be implemented at least partially with a computer or other data processing system, e.g., by one or more processors configured to receive or retrieve information, process the information, store results, and transmit the results. Other implementations may perform the actions in different orders and/or with different, fewer or additional actions than those illustrated in FIG. 12. Multiple actions can be combined in some implementations. For convenience, this flowchart is described with reference to the system that carries out a method. The system is not necessarily part of the method.

The method described in this section and other sections of the technology disclosed can include one or more of the following features and/or features described in connection with additional methods disclosed. In the interest of conciseness, the combinations of features disclosed in this application are not individually enumerated and are not repeated with each base set of features. The reader will understand how features identified in this method can readily be combined with sets of base features identified as implementations such as system overview, tracking, mapping, robot implementation, VR/AR implementation, etc.

At step 1210, a location of a mobile unit is received. Let P_(l) be the initial pose of the mobile unit.

At step 1220, information is received from the IMU that the mobile unit has moved to a new position. The movement of the mobile unit can be described by a rotational portion of the movement R_(IMU) and a translational portion of the movement t_(IMU).

At step 1230, while waiting for a new frame from the camera from the new position, the initial pose is updated using inertial data from the multi-axis IMU, to generate a propagated pose P_(l+1) at the new location, as shown in equation (3).

R _(IMU) [P _(l) ]+t _(IMU) =P _(l+1)  (3)

At step 1240, a new frame is captured by the camera at the new location. Features are extracted from the new frame at step 1250. At step 1260, the extracted new features are matched with features from the previous frame and reprojected feature positions from the 3D map onto a 2D view from a perspective of the propagated pose, producing a list of matching features. A rotational portion of the movement R_(CAM) and a translational portion of the movement R_(CAM) as depicted by the movement of the matching features between the successive frames are estimated, as shown in equation (4).

R _(CAM) [P _(l) ]+t _(CAM) =P _(l+1)  (4)

While the rotational portion of the movement depicted by the camera is accurate, the scale of the translational portion is ambiguous. At step 1270, a scale factor is determined using the information from translational portion of the information from the IMU and a translational portion of positions of matching features, as shown in equation (5).

scale factor=t _(CAM) /t _(IMU)  (5)

At step 1280, a corrected pose P_(m) at the new location is calculated using the scale factor in step 1270, as shown in equation (6).

$\begin{matrix} {P_{m} = {{R_{CAM}\left\lbrack P_{l} \right\rbrack} + \frac{t_{CAM}}{{scale}\mspace{14mu} {factor}}}} & (6) \end{matrix}$

Other implementations of the method described in this section can include a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions executable by a processor to perform any of the methods described above. Yet another implementation of the method described in this section can include a system including memory and one or more processors operable to execute instructions, stored in the memory, to perform any of the methods described above.

In some implementations, the image update from the camera in the mobile unit with one operational camera can fail due to a blurred image captured due to fast motion of the mobile unit, poor illumination in the surrounding environment, camera's viewpoint is being blocked by an object, etc. Also, there can be a significant number of IMU propagations between two successful image update. After N image consecutive update failures, propagation is performed by using the EKF method on the gyroscope reading of the IMU. Propagation based on the on the gyroscope reading of the IMU predicts a propagated pose by assuming the mobile unit is rotating in place.

Generating Pose Information for a Monocular-Auxiliary Sensor where a WOU is Used as the Auxiliary Sensor:

Propagation:

The mobile unit has two wheels which are positioned parallel to each other and equidistant from the center of the mobile unit. The wheels can move forward or backward. The wheels are attached to a rotary encoder, which determines if either wheel has traveled one “unit” forward or reverse along the surface. This unit is the ratio of the circumference of the wheel to the resolution of the encoder. The distance traveled by the mobile unit can be computed from the number of units traveled and the circumference of its wheels. In the case where one wheel is allowed to rotate, while the other remains stationary, the magnitude of the change of position of the center of the robot can be determined using the law of sines. If the left wheel were to move forward one unit while the right wheel remained stationary, then the right wheel acts as a pivot, and the left wheel traces a circular arc in the clockwise direction. If the right wheel were to move forward one unit while the left wheel remained stationary, then the left wheel acts as a pivot, and the right wheel traces a circular arc in the anti-clockwise direction. The wheel odometry unit supplies the Control Unit 100 the rotation portion of the movement of the mobile unit and translational portion of the movement of the mobile unit.

The lack of depth scale accuracy of a single camera can be greatly improved by using data from the wheel odometry unit. Even if the only operational camera in the monocular system fails (e.g., low light, fog, bright light, hardware or software failures, view obstruction, and so forth), wheel odometry data can be used for propagation. Propagation by the WOU can be performed in a number of ways: (i) the propagation happens right after an odometry measurement taken by the WOU arrives; or (ii) delayed propagation happens in a batch right after an image taken by the visual sensors arrives but before the update procedure described below is performed.

Update:

In an implementation, an update process is performed using image information together with WOU buffer samples. In a single observation implementation, based on the current image observation, the information needed for propagation, e.g., features, poses, map points, etc. is prepared. Then 2D-3D correspondence information for the optical flow tracked 2D features is obtained by directly using 2D-2D correspondences from optical flow tracking results. For the remaining 3D map points, smartly search over 3D with adaptive parameters by: (i) if the remaining number of points is small, e.g., below a threshold, perform a linear search, otherwise, (ii) if the remaining number of points is fairly big, e.g., above a threshold, perform a log(n) search with the use of a kd-tree or octree. Next, perform update, and generate pose for the current frame using only “good outstanding” points. Alternatively, perform the update twice: first only with high weights “good outstanding” points, then with all the map points. As used herein, the term “good outstanding” points denotes high quality points, e.g., those points having smaller reprojection error and/or being tracked many times in a good state, which can be selected by application of some heuristics.

FIG. 13 is a representative method 1300 of updating a position of a mobile unit that includes a camera and a wheel odometry unit. Flowchart 1300 can be implemented at least partially with a computer or other data processing system, e.g., by one or more processors configured to receive or retrieve information, process the information, store results, and transmit the results. Other implementations may perform the actions in different orders and/or with different, fewer or additional actions than those illustrated in FIG. 13. Multiple actions can be combined in some implementations. For convenience, this flowchart is described with reference to the system that carries out a method. The system is not necessarily part of the method.

The method described in this section and other sections of the technology disclosed can include one or more of the following features and/or features described in connection with additional methods disclosed. In the interest of conciseness, the combinations of features disclosed in this application are not individually enumerated and are not repeated with each base set of features. The reader will understand how features identified in this method can readily be combined with sets of base features identified as implementations such as system overview, tracking, mapping, robot implementation, VR/AR implementation, etc.

At step 1310, a location of a mobile unit is received. Let P_(l) be the initial pose of the mobile unit.

At step 1320, information is received from the WOU that the mobile unit has moved to a new position. The movement of the mobile unit can be described by a rotational portion of the movement R_(WHEEL) and a translational portion of the movement t_(WHEEL).

At step 1330, while waiting for a new frame from the camera from the new position, the initial pose is updated using odometry data from the WOU, to generate a propagated pose P_(l+1) at the new location, as shown in equation (7).

R _(WHEEL) [P _(l) ]+t _(WHEEL) =P _(l+1)  (7)

At step 1340, a new frame is captured by the camera at the new location. Features are extracted from the new frame at step 1350. At step 1360, the extracted new features are matched with features from the previous frame and reprojected feature positions from the 3D map onto a 2D view from a perspective of the propagated pose, producing a list of matching features. A rotational portion of the movement R_(CAM) and a translational portion of the movement R_(CAM) as depicted by the movement of the matching features between the successive frames are estimated, as shown in equation (8).

R _(CAM) [P _(l) ]+t _(CAM) =P _(l+1)  (8)

While the rotational portion of the movement depicted by the camera is accurate, the scale of the translational portion is ambiguous. At step 1370, a scale factor is determined using the information from translational portion of the information from the WOU and a translational portion of positions of matching features, as shown in equation (9).

scale factor=t _(CAM) /t _(IMU)  (9)

At step 1380, a corrected pose P_(m) is calculated using the scale factor in step 1370, as shown in equation (10).

$\begin{matrix} {P_{m} = {{R_{CAM}\left\lbrack P_{l} \right\rbrack} + \frac{t_{CAM}}{{scale}\mspace{14mu} {factor}}}} & (10) \end{matrix}$

Other implementations of the method described in this section can include a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions executable by a processor to perform any of the methods described above. Yet another implementation of the method described in this section can include a system including memory and one or more processors operable to execute instructions, stored in the memory, to perform any of the methods described above.

Generating Pose Information for a Monocular-Auxiliary Sensor where an IMU and a WOU are Used as the Auxiliary Sensors:

Propagation:

In a monocular-auxiliary sensor with two auxiliary sensors, a first propagated pose is estimated using image information together with data from one auxiliary sensor. A second propagated pose is estimated from the second auxiliary sensor. A corrected pose is estimated from the first propagated pose and the second propagated pose. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize a variety of equivalent variations. In an implementation, an IMU can be the first auxiliary sensor while a WOU can be a secondary auxiliary sensor.

Implementations can employ extended Kalman filtering (EKF), to extrapolate an initial pose using inertial data from the multi-axis IMU, to generate a propagated pose. Propagation by the IMU can be performed in a number of ways: (i) the propagation happens right after an inertial measurement taken by the IMU arrives; or (ii) delayed propagation happens in batch right after an image taken by the visual sensors arrives but before the update procedure described below is performed.

In some implementations, a motion sensor keeps a window of readings from the accelerometer of the IMU. The motion sensor computes the variance of the accelerations in the window of accelerator readings and determines whether the mobile unit is moving or static, based on the calculated variance. A variance greater than a predetermined threshold variance indicates the mobile unit is moving, and propagation is performed by using the EKF method. A variance smaller than a predetermined threshold variance indicates the mobile unit is static and propagation is performed by using the EKF method assuming zero velocity. The predetermined threshold variance can be estimated by various techniques as readily apparent to those skilled in the art.

The wheel odometry unit supplies the Control Unit 100 the rotation portion of the movement of the mobile unit and translational portion of the movement of the mobile unit. Propagation by the WOU can be performed after a first propagated pose from the camera and IMU is received.

Update:

In an implementation, an update process is performed using image information together with IMU and WOU buffer samples. In a single observation implementation, based on the current image observation, the information needed for propagation, e.g., features, poses, map points, etc. is prepared. Then 2D-3D correspondence information for the optical flow tracked 2D features is obtained by directly using 2D-2D correspondences from optical flow tracking results. For the remaining 3D map points, smartly search over 3D with adaptive parameters by: (i) if the remaining number of points is small, e.g., below a threshold, perform a linear search, otherwise, (ii) if the remaining number of points is fairly big, e.g., above a threshold, perform a log(n) search with the use of a kd-tree or octree. Next, perform update, and generate pose for the current frame using only “good outstanding” points. Alternatively, perform the update twice: first only with high weights “good outstanding” points, then with all the map points. As used herein, the term “good outstanding” points denotes high quality points, e.g., those points having smaller reprojection error and/or being tracked many times in a good state, which can be selected by application of some heuristics.

FIG. 14 is a representative method 1400 of updating a position of a mobile unit that includes a camera, a multi-axis inertial measuring unit, and a wheel odometry unit. Flowchart 1400 can be implemented at least partially with a computer or other data processing system, e.g., by one or more processors configured to receive or retrieve information, process the information, store results, and transmit the results. Other implementations may perform the actions in different orders and/or with different, fewer or additional actions than those illustrated in FIG. 14. Multiple actions can be combined in some implementations. For convenience, this flowchart is described with reference to the system that carries out a method. The system is not necessarily part of the method.

The method described in this section and other sections of the technology disclosed can include one or more of the following features and/or features described in connection with additional methods disclosed. In the interest of conciseness, the combinations of features disclosed in this application are not individually enumerated and are not repeated with each base set of features. The reader will understand how features identified in this method can readily be combined with sets of base features identified as implementations such as system overview, tracking, mapping, robot implementation, VR/AR implementation, etc.

At step 1405, a location of a mobile unit is received. Let P_(l) be the initial pose of the mobile unit.

At step 1410, information is received from the IMU that the mobile unit has moved to a new position. The movement of the mobile unit can be described by a rotational portion of the movement R_(IMU) and a translational portion of the movement t_(IMU).

At step 1415, while waiting for a new frame from the camera from a new position, the initial pose is updated using inertial data from the multi-axis IMU, to generate a new pose P_(l+1) at the new location, as shown in equation (11).

R _(IMU) [P _(l) ]+t _(IMU) =P _(l+1)  (11)

At step 1420, a new frame is captured by the camera at the new location. Features are extracted from the new frame at step 1425. At step 1430, the extracted new features are matched with features from the previous frame and reprojected feature positions from the 3D map onto a 2D view from a perspective of the propagated pose, producing a list of matching features. A rotational portion of the movement R_(CAM) and a translational portion of the movement R_(CAM) as depicted by the movement of the matching features between the successive frames are estimated, as shown in equation (12).

R _(CAM) [P _(l) ]+t _(CAM) =P _(l+1)  (12)

While the rotational portion of the movement depicted by the camera is accurate, the scale of the translational portion is ambiguous. At step 1435, a scale factor is determined using the information from translational portion of the information from the IMU and a translational portion of positions of matching features, as shown in equation (13).

scale factor=t _(CAM) /t _(IMU)  (13)

At step 1440, a first propagated pose P_(l) is calculated using the scale factor in step 1435, as shown in equation (14).

$\begin{matrix} {P_{m} = {{R_{CAM}\left\lbrack P_{l} \right\rbrack} + \frac{t_{CAM}}{{scale}\mspace{14mu} {factor}}}} & (14) \end{matrix}$

At step 1445, a second propagated pose P_(II) is received from the wheel odometer unit.

At step 1450, an error is determined between the first propagated pose P_(I) and the second propagated pose P_(II).

At step 1455, error between the first propagated pose P_(I) and the second propagated pose P_(II) is minimized using an optimization technique. In one embodiment, the optimization technique can be Newton's method. In another embodiment, the optimization technique can be gradient descent method. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize a variety of equivalent variations. After the error between the first propagated pose P_(I) and the second propagated pose P_(II) is minimized, a corrected pose P_(m) is reached.

Other implementations of the method described in this section can include a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions executable by a processor to perform any of the methods described above. Yet another implementation of the method described in this section can include a system including memory and one or more processors operable to execute instructions, stored in the memory, to perform any of the methods described above.

In some implementations, the image update from the camera in the mobile unit with one operational camera can fail due to a blurred image captured due to fast motion of the mobile unit, poor illumination in the surrounding environment, camera's viewpoint is being blocked by an object, etc. Also, there can be a significant number of IMU propagations between two successful image update. After N image consecutive update failures, propagation is performed by using the EKF method on the gyroscope reading of the IMU. Propagation based on the on the gyroscope reading of the IMU predicts a propagated pose by assuming the mobile unit is rotating in place.

Generating Pose Information for a Monocular-Auxiliary Sensor where a Depth Sensor is Used as the Auxiliary Sensor:

Propagate and Update: A “sparse driven” approach is used to gather depth information for propagation in a monocular-auxiliary sensor where a depth sensor is used as the auxiliary sensor. When a mobile unit travels to a new position with a new camera viewpoint, a table of depth values is populated for some pixel coordinates of the pixelated new frame from the camera from the new position. Based on the current image observation, the information needed for propagation, e.g., features, poses, map points, etc. is prepared. Then 2D-3D correspondence information for the optical flow tracked 2D features is obtained by directly using 2D-2D correspondences from optical flow tracking results. For the remaining 3D map points, smartly search over 3D with adaptive parameters by: (i) if the remaining number of points is small, e.g., below a threshold, perform a linear search, otherwise, (ii) if the remaining number of points is fairly big, e.g., above a threshold, perform a log(n) search with the use of a kd-tree or octree. Next, perform update, and generate pose for the current frame using only “good outstanding” points. Alternatively, perform the update twice: first only with high weights “good outstanding” points, then with all the map points. As used herein, the term “good outstanding” points denotes high quality points, e.g., those points having smaller reprojection error and/or being tracked many times in a good state, which can be selected by application of some heuristics.

From the list of “good outstanding” features, features with no corresponding reading from the depth sensor and unreliable depth information are removed. Depth values for the remaining features on the list of “good outstanding” features are retrieved from the table of depth values, and a weighted average depth value is calculated for each feature with all the available pixel coordinates for that feature. The 2D features with the weighted depth scale are used to populate a 3D map; thereby initializing the 3D map for use.

FIG. 15 is a representative method 1500 of updating a position of a mobile unit that includes a camera and a depth sensor. Flowchart 1500 can be implemented at least partially with a computer or other data processing system, e.g., by one or more processors configured to receive or retrieve information, process the information, store results, and transmit the results. Other implementations may perform the actions in different orders and/or with different, fewer or additional actions than those illustrated in FIG. 15. Multiple actions can be combined in some implementations. For convenience, this flowchart is described with reference to the system that carries out a method. The system is not necessarily part of the method.

The method described in this section and other sections of the technology disclosed can include one or more of the following features and/or features described in connection with additional methods disclosed. In the interest of conciseness, the combinations of features disclosed in this application are not individually enumerated and are not repeated with each base set of features. The reader will understand how features identified in this method can readily be combined with sets of base features identified as implementations such as system overview, tracking, mapping, robot implementation, VR/AR implementation, etc.

At step 1505, a mobile unit travels to a new position with a new camera viewpoint. At step 1510, a new frame is captured by the camera at the new location. Features are extracted from the new frame at step 1515 and the extracted features are stored in a list of features. At step 1520, the system requests depth information from some pixels in the new frame from the depth sensor. At step 1525, the system receives depth information for the requested pixels in the new frame from the depth sensor. At step 1530, the system populates a table of depth values to the requested pixel coordinates with the information received from the depth sensor. At step 1535, features on the list of features with no corresponding reading from the depth sensor or unreliable depth information are removed. At step 1540, depth values for the remaining features on the list of features are retrieved from the table of depth values. At step 1545, a weighted average depth value is calculated for each remaining feature in the feature list with the depth values of all the available pixel coordinates for that feature. At step 1550, a 3D map is populated with the remaining list of features on the list of the features with their corresponding depth value.

Other implementations of the method described in this section can include a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions executable by a processor to perform any of the methods described above. Yet another implementation of the method described in this section can include a system including memory and one or more processors operable to execute instructions, stored in the memory, to perform any of the methods described above.

SIM: Smart Map Interaction and Localize

Smart interaction with map (SIM) processor 1114 enables smart interaction by a device being guided (i.e., receiving positional awareness information from the monocular-auxiliary sensor system) with a known map in order to localize itself. Accordingly, one implementation of a smart interaction map processor 1114 processing includes:

-   -   Perform a query of the map based on a need and a current status.         Some query components included by specific implementations are         map points (xyz, uncertainty, average reprojection error, etc.),         keyrigs' poses, 2D-3D constraint information, and occupancy grid         (one layer or multiple layer). As used herein, the term keyrig         denotes a set of image data received. In some implementations,         the sets of image data include feature points and pose         information. The pose information includes a location of the         mobile device and view of the camera that captured the image         data. The sets of image data are referred to collectively as         keyrigs.     -   If the map as a whole is not big, e.g., meets a particular         threshold size, return the entire map.     -   Otherwise, if the map is big, e.g., meets or exceeds a         particular threshold size and covers large areas, e.g., spatial         area meets or exceeds a particular threshold, smartly grab a         local region of map based on the device's current position.     -   If some area of the map is known to have bad quality, don't use         it.     -   Adaptively down-sample map based on system performance according         to an adaptive parameter. For example: (i) if the 3D         feature-based tracking process has been accurate, e.g., below a         threshold number of errors or invocations of relocalization         processing to relocalize a device that has lost its place, then         reduce the sample size to conserve resources, otherwise, (ii) if         the device is getting lost frequently, e.g., meets or exceeds a         threshold, then increase the sample size to provide better         tracking.

SDAR: Manage Localization State and Response Strategy

System diagnostics and response (SDAR) processor 1103 performs system level management of current localizing state of a monocular-auxiliary sensor and provides response strategy. In one implementation, the system diagnostics and response processor 1103 monitors tracked map points and corresponding reprojection error, monitors the longevity of untracked map points, and suggests actions to mapping module, monitors device speed/acceleration/jitter/drift, monitors map “activity” (i.e., is it updated regularly?), performs new added map contribute enough to the overall mapping (i.e., so it's not doing useless hovering?), monitors keyrig topology (i.e., stretch enough or too much?), suggests when and where the device should add keyrig, and monitors feature extractor pipeline

Relocalize a Lost Device

Re-locator 1122 recovers a device that has lost track of its positional from this state. Once re-locator 1122 returns the lost device back on track, the device can resume normal interacting with smart interaction map processor 1114, and/or can contribute to map building, using the techniques described herein below.

Relocalization

FIG. 16A illustrates an example of a relocalization process in one implementation. Accordingly, one implementation of relocalization processing 1600A includes:

-   -   In action 1610, a search strategy is selected using a         situational heuristic. For example, if there are many keyrigs,         (e.g., >50) and a fast recovery is needed, and then select a         search strategy of performing a best match (on Bag-of-Words         features) among the keyrigs, and using the best-matched keyrig's         pose as end-result. In another example, if it is determined that         the system is well on-track before lost, then select a search         over only the local (e.g., most recent x keyrigs) keyrigs for         fast recovery. In a further example, if the system needs         multiple hypotheses before further refinement, then select a         search strategy that includes using the few best matches (on         Bag-of-Words features). Other types of search strategies can be         triggered using appropriate heuristics indicating a         correspondence between the search strategy and one or more         environmental variables (e.g., lighting change, visibility         change due to fog, steam or mist, etc.) or one or more state         variables (e.g., previously was tracking well before getting         lost, had just performed a previous attempt to relocalize which         has now failed, etc.).     -   In action 1620, the keyrigs are searched using the selected         search strategy in order to find among the keyrigs a keyrig with         bag of words description closest to a bag of words description         of a current image.     -   In action 1630, determine whether the match quality is         sufficient. This can be determined by applying a threshold to a         quality of match indication or by other means. For example, a         match quality indicator ranges from 0, denoting complete         difference, to 1, denoting an exact match. A corresponding match         quality threshold can be 0.85 indicating a minimum passing match         quality. If the match quality is sufficient, then continue with         action 1640. Otherwise, continue with action 1690 to check         whether an alternative search strategy can be employed, or if         available applicable search strategies have been exhausted, and         continue processing in action 1610 with an alternative search         strategy or in action 1695 return an error condition indicating         that the relocalization failed.     -   In an action 1640, correlate feature points of the current image         with mapped points from the keyrig selected in action 1620,         yielding <2D, 3D> point pairings. The point pairings indicate a         relationship between the 2D current image and the 3D map of the         selected keyrig.     -   In an action 1650, determine if the quantity of points is         determined to be sufficient. This can be determined by applying         a threshold to the quantity of 2D image points having a         correspondence with a 3D point in the map of the selected         keyrig. For example, in one implementation 6 or more points are         sufficient; while in another implementation 20-30 points are         required. If the quantity of points is sufficient, then continue         with action 1660. Otherwise, continue with action 1690 to check         whether an alternative search strategy can be employed, or if         available applicable search strategies have been exhausted, and         continue processing in action 1610 with an alternative search         strategy or in action 1695 return an error condition indicating         that the relocalization failed.     -   In action 1660 refine the pose from the best matched keyrig and         perform perspective-n-points (PnP)—or other pose estimation         method that computes a pose from 2 sets of 2D image features.         While any of a wide variety of PnP implementations can be used         to refine pose information, one OpenCV API called solvePnPRansac         has been found to perform acceptably in an example         implementation. Further description of the solvePnPRansac API         can be obtained with reference to “Camera Calibration and 3D         Reconstruction”         http://docs.opencv.org/master/d9/d0c/group_calib3d.html#gsc.tab=0         (last accessed Aug. 22, 2016).     -   In an action 1670, determine whether the refined pose is         reasonable. In one implementation a refined pose is considered         reasonable if the refined pose meets criteria: (i) the refined         pose is sufficiently similar (e.g., within a tolerance or below         a threshold) in position and perspective from the pose of the         identified keyrig selected based upon the matching in action         1620; and (ii) reprojection of 3D points in the <2D, 3D> point         pairings identified in action 1640 yields a new 2D point on the         2D image plane, where the new 2D point has coordinates         sufficiently similar (e.g., within a tolerance or below a         threshold) to the original 2D point of the <2D, 3D> point         pairing. If the defined pose is reasonable, then continue with         action 1680. Otherwise, continue with action 1690 to check         whether an alternative search strategy can be employed, or if         available applicable search strategies have been exhausted, and         continue processing in action 1610 with an alternative search         strategy or in action 1695 return an error condition indicating         that the relocalization failed.     -   In an action 1680, commence tracking with the refined pose.         Also, record the whole recovery information, and:         -   update machine state with the refined pose information as             the current pose         -   put the device back on track with some uncertainty

FIG. 16B illustrates an example of a relocalization search strategy selection process in one implementation. Accordingly, one implementation of the processing 1600B provides selecting a search strategy using a situational heuristic that includes:

-   -   In action 1615, determine whether there are many keyrigs,         (e.g., >N, where N in an positive integer) and whether a fast         recovery is needed. If this is the case, then in an action 1625,         select a search strategy of performing a best match (on         Bag-of-Words features) among the keyrigs, and using the         best-matched keyrig's pose as end-result.     -   In an action 1635, it is determined whether the system was well         on-track before lost. If this is the case, then in an action         1645, select a search over limited to the local keyrigs (e.g.,         most recent X keyrigs) for fast recovery.     -   In an action 1655, determine whether the system needs multiple         hypotheses before further refinement. If this is the case, then         in action 1665, select a search strategy that includes using the         few best matches (on Bag-of-Words features).     -   In an action 1675 a default search strategy is selected in the         event that a situation is encountered that does not meet         criterion specified by at least one of the heuristics. Other         types of search strategies can be triggered using appropriate         heuristics indicating a correspondence between the search         strategy and one or more environmental variables (e.g., lighting         change, visibility change due to fog, steam or mist, etc.) or         one or more state variables (e.g., previously was tracking well         before getting lost, had just performed a previous attempt to         relocalize which has now failed, etc.).

Geometric information obtained by 3D feature-based tracking is used to construct a hybrid grid that represents the features in a map useful in guiding a mobile device. The process of performing this task is described next with reference to examples depicted by FIG. 19.

Mapping

In implementations, geometric information obtained by a 3D feature-based tracking process is represented using a descriptive point cloud representation. The descriptive point cloud is a set of sparse 3D points, where each point encodes a 3D geometric location, an uncertainty of the geometric location, and a set of 2D location plus appearance-based descriptors, each observed by a keyrig. A keyrig contains (i) a Timestamp where the images in the keyrig is captured; (ii) a pose (i.e. the transformation from the monocular-auxiliary sensor's coordinate to the map coordinate at the current time) and its uncertainty; and (iii) a sequence of readings from the auxiliary sensors starting from a first temporal point before the timestamp to a second temporal point after the timestamp. Some implementations further include a flag to specify whether the monocular-auxiliary sensor is moving or static. This flag can be set from information obtained from the IMU readings.

Hybrid Representation

Implementations represent the spatial information perceived by a 3D feature-based mapping system and optionally an active ranging sensor (placed in parallel to the ground plane) using a hybrid point grid representation. One example implementation of a hybrid point grid representation combines a descriptive point cloud and a multi-layer 2D occupancy grid map.

The occupancy grid map can be a plane oriented substantially perpendicular to the direction of gravity. Each layer has a specific height. (The layer on the floor is typically 0 according to one convention.). FIG. 17 illustrates an example of an occupancy grid map in one implementation. Occupancy grid 1700 of FIG. 17 indicates a single layer, such as a floor layer 1702, mapped by an implementation of the monocular-auxiliary sensor. The white portions of occupancy grid 1700 indicate empty space—in other words space that has been determined by the monocular-auxiliary sensor to be unoccupied. For example, when the monocular-auxiliary sensor is able to look through the room door and window to note space beyond the walls of the room that is unoccupied, these regions are marked accordingly in occupancy grid 1700. Portions in solid black indicate space that is occupied by an object or obstacle. The gray portions indicate space that the monocular-auxiliary sensor has not yet determined whether these spaces are occupied or empty.

A 3 degrees of freedom transform that relates the descriptive point cloud coordinates to the gravity-based coordinates. For example, if the normal vector of the ground plane (i.e., gravity) is known, first rotate the point cloud so that the z-axis of the point cloud is parallel to the gravity, using a 3-by-3 rotation matrix R=R_pitch*R_roll. Then, (optionally) translate the point by [0, 0. T_z] so that the z=0 is on the ground plane. Note, a normal 3-by-3 rotation matrix has 3 degrees of freedom (R_yaw,*R_pitch*R_roll), however in this case are only 2 degrees. A normal 3-by-1 translation has 3 degrees of freedom ([t_x, t_y, t_z]), but here there is only 1 degree.

Creating a Point Cloud for Features Representation

Implementations incrementally create a descriptive point cloud from the results of 3D feature-based tracking by adding keyrigs according to a criterion, such as in a following example. Result of 3D feature based tracking is received in sets of image data that include feature points and pose information. The pose information includes a location of the mobile device and view of the camera that captured the image data. These sets are referred to collectively as keyrigs. Accordingly, an implementation builds a descriptive point cloud by selecting keyrigs using one or more criteria such as for example the following:

-   -   The first image frame is selected as a keyrig, and the device         coordinate frame at that timestamp become the coordinates of the         descriptive point cloud. This establishes a frame of reference.     -   The latest keyrig's timestamp is less than current timestamp for         a time threshold (typically 2 sec).     -   The distance between the current tracked pose to the latest         keyrig's location is larger than a threshold (e.g., x meters).     -   The distance between the current tracked pose to the latest         keyrig's pointing angle is larger than a threshold (e.g., y         degrees)     -   The current image contains a percentage of features not included         in the current descriptive point cloud.     -   The device is currently static. This information can be obtained         from information from the auxiliary sensors.

If the keyrig being considered for addition contains features not included in the current descriptive point cloud, triangulate the new features from images captured from the device at this timestamp to obtain the points in the device's coordinate frame. Add the new points to the map by transforming the points from the device's coordinate frame to the map's coordinate frame. Noteworthy is that some implementations include one or more of (i) triangulating new feature points across images from a current/same keyrig (e.g. between left and right cameras), (ii) triangulating new feature points across images from two different keyrigs, wherein the two different keyrigs are not necessarily in sequence (e.g. left camera from keyrig 1 to left camera from keyrig 10), and (iii) triangulating new feature points from images in keyrigs chosen based upon a criterion (e.g., smart selection of an “optimal” keyrig). The transform is determined using feature-based tracking or other methods.

Refining a Point Cloud

In one implementation, a descriptive point cloud from the 3D feature-based tracking is refined by obtaining an “optimal” (i) pose of each keyrig and (ii) 3D locations of all the points that minimizes weighted sum of re-projection errors of all the points projected to their observed keyrigs, and (iii) optionally, the accelerometer readings from keyrigs with static flag must be [0, 0, 1] to force the z-axis of the map coordinate to be closer to gravity direction, while fulfilling the following constraint (if applicable): the pose moves along a plane (if the device is mounted on a vehicle with planar motion).

In one implementation, refining a descriptive point cloud from the 3D feature-based tracking is performed with limited computation resources by the following processing:

-   -   Randomly sample N number of keyrigs from the entire set of         keyrigs.     -   Accurately refine the pose of the sample set of keyrigs and the         3D points observed in these keyrigs by minimizing the weighted         sum of the (i) re-projection errors of all the points projected         to their observed keyrigs, and (ii) optionally, the         accelerometer readings from keyrigs with static flag must be [0,         0, 1] to force the z-axis of the map coordinate to be closer to         gravity direction, while fulfilling the following constraints         (if applicable): the pose moves along a plane (if the device is         mounted on a vehicle with planar motion).     -   Repeat the sampling and minimizing except fixing the 3D points         and the poses that have already been optimized from the previous         iteration.     -   Iterate until a desired percentage of keyrigs and points are         optimized.

Creating a Hybrid Point Grid

In one implementation, an initial hybrid point grid representation is created from a descriptive point cloud using the following processing:

-   -   Transform the descriptive point cloud from its original         coordinate frame to a coordinate frame where z-axis is along the         gravity direction. This transformation has 2 degrees of freedom         (in rotation).     -   Initialize a 2D occupancy grid map for layers that cover the x-y         points in the descriptive point cloud.     -   Each layer of the occupancy grid map is filled in by points (in         the descriptive point cloud) within a height range using ray         tracing process.

Refining a Hybrid Point Grid

In one implementation, the hybrid point grid representation is refined using information from active sensors using the following processing:

-   -   Obtain the pose, (transform from the device coordinate to the         map's coordinate) where each active sensor's signal is captured,         from the trajectory of the device in the map's coordinate frame.     -   Use ray tracing process to update the 2D occupancy grid map.

In one implementation, the refining hybrid point grid representation from an updated descriptive point cloud is performed using the following processing:

-   -   Transform the descriptive point cloud's coordinate frame to the         gravity-based coordinate frame.     -   Use ray tracing process to determine which cells to update from         each point in the descriptive point cloud.

Estimating a Trajectory for a Guided Device

In one implementation, an offline trajectory of a device between two consecutive keyrigs (i.e. from keyrig k to keyrig k+1) in a descriptive point cloud is estimated using the following processing:

-   -   Initialize the image frame that creates keyrig k to be at its         pose stored in the descriptive point cloud.     -   Use the “3D feature-based tracking process” as described herein         under section heading “Tracking” to track the image frames         between the two keyrigs. Each image frame has 6-degrees of         freedom pose, and a set of correspondences of 3D map point to 2D         image observed location.     -   Force the image frame that creates keyrig k+1 to be at its pose         stored in the descriptive point cloud.     -   Refine all the poses by minimizing the sum of reprojection         errors of all observed locations. The reprojection error is the         error between a reprojected point in the camera coordinate frame         and the original point. FIG. 18 illustrates an example of         reprojection 1800. In FIG. 18, some points in the reference         frame of camera 1802 are used to triangulate one or more new 3D         points P 1804 in the world coordinate frame. Due to errors in         the calibration of the camera(s) 1802, the spatial position of         point P 1804 will not be completely accurate. The reprojection         error 1806 can be determined from the resulting 3D point P 1804         re-projected into the coordinates of the camera 1802 (using the         calibration data for the camera), obtaining a new point         {circumflex over (p)} 1808 near the originally projected p 1810.         The reprojection error 1806 is the straight line distance         between the original point p 1810 and the reprojected point         {circumflex over (p)} 1808.

Estimating a Transform for a Descriptive Point Cloud and Gravity Based Frame

In one implementation, the 2 degrees of freedom coordinate transform between the descriptive point cloud to a coordinate where z-axis is along the gravity direction is estimated using any of the following methods:

-   -   Measuring the gravity direction from the auxiliary sensors while         it is static, and find a rotation matrix that transforms the         gravity direction to [0, 0, 1].     -   Obtain at least 3 points on the ground-plane from the         descriptive point cloud to estimate the ground-plane's normal in         the original coordinate. Find a rotation matrix that transforms         the ground-plane's normal to [0, 0, 1] or [0, 0, −1].     -   Offline calibrate the relation between the monocular-auxiliary         sensors to the ground by placing a known planar pattern on the         ground to determine the rotation matrix.

Robot Implementation

FIG. 19 illustrates an example model of robot guidance using image and auxiliary sensor information techniques described herein. Examples of robot applications that benefit from employing positional awareness techniques such as described herein include:

-   -   Caregiver and Service robots (traveling on a ground plane)     -   A robot vacuuming/mopping/cleaning the floor.     -   A robot being commanded to carry objects around the environment.     -   A telepresence robot moving around a remote environment         automatically.     -   A robot butler that follows a person around.

In each of the scenarios listed above, the robot utilizes the technology disclosed herein in order to track its own location and to recognize the objects that it encounters. Also, since the robot performs many complex tasks, each with real-time constraints, it is beneficial that the sensing be done rapidly to accelerate the perception pipeline. In implementations, this can be achieved by offloading some computation from the main processor to the monocular-auxiliary sensor. In addition, since it is a mobile robot, which carries limited storage capacity battery, energy consumption is a design point. In implementations, some computational tasks are off loaded from the main processor to the monocular-auxiliary sensor to reduce power consumption, thereby enabling implementations to achieve overall energy efficiency. Cost is an issue in mobile robots, since lowering the cost of the robot makes the robot affordable to more customers. Hence cost can be another factor for sensor and guidance system design. In implementations, one low-cost grayscale sensor is used for localization tasks, and one colored sensor for recognition tasks. This design point enables these implementations to significantly reduce the cost over a stereo colored sensor designs without sacrificing performance.

In FIG. 19, the walls, corners and door 1923 of room 1900 as well as the travels of service robot 1925 on the floor of room 1900 are reflected in the hybrid point grid, comprised of descriptive point cloud 1945 and occupancy grid 1955, developed by the monocular-auxiliary sensor using the technology described herein above in the Mapping section. The occupancy grid 1955 is a part of the hybrid point grid that is a layer of the multi-layer 2D occupancy grid map described in the Mapping section. To build a map of an unknown (newly exposed) environment, the monocular-auxiliary sensor equipped robot 1925 keeps track of its pose using the technology described herein above in the Tracking section while incrementally building an initial descriptive point cloud using the technology described herein above in the Mapping section. Then, the robot 1925 builds an occupancy grid 1955 to complete the hybrid point grid from the initial descriptive point cloud 1945 using the technology described herein above in the Mapping section.

Obtain Real Time Image and Information from Auxiliary Sensors

In order to track its location, the robot senses its own movement through monocular-auxiliary sensor. The monocular-auxiliary sensor generates reliable data from auxiliary sensors so that the tracking and mapping pipeline that follows can accurately infer the robot's location. FIG. 19 illustrates an example robot guidance application in which one implementation can be embodied. As illustrated by FIG. 19, robot 1925 implements monocular-auxiliary sensor to self-localize within a room 1900. The robot 1925 in FIG. 19 employs the camera 602 of a monocular-auxiliary sensor in order to capture image frames of the surrounding environment of room 1900. The images are processed according to the technology disclosed herein above under the Sensor Visual Data Generation and Processing section as follows:

Detect and Describe Features in Captured Images

Monocular-auxiliary sensor determines feature points 1901, 1911, 1941, 1951, 1922, and so forth for the walls, corners and door 1923 of room 1900 from the information in the captured image frames. In some implementations, Shi-Tomasi feature detection is employed to determine the feature points 1901, 1911, 1941, 1951, 1922 from the image frames. Features are assigned descriptors using ORB feature description. Optical flow techniques are used to determine 2D correspondences in the images, enabling matching together features in different images.

Map Feature descriptors to a Hybrid Point Grid

The monocular-auxiliary sensor equipped robot 1925 can build a descriptive point cloud 1945 of the obstacles in room 1900 enabling the robot 1925 to circumnavigate obstacles and self-localize within room 1900. Monocular-auxiliary sensor creates, updates, and refines descriptive point cloud 1945 using feature descriptors determined for room features indicated by points 1901, 1911, 1941, 1951, 1922 using the technology disclosed herein above under the Mapping sections. As depicted schematically in FIG. 19, descriptive point cloud 1945 includes coordinates and feature descriptors corresponding to the feature points 1901, 1911, 1941, 1951, 1922 of room 1900. Monocular-auxiliary sensor prepares an occupancy map 1955 by reprojecting feature points 1901, 1911, 1941, 1951, 1922 onto a 2D layer corresponding to the floor of the room 1900. In some implementations, second and possibly greater occupancy maps are created at differing heights of the robot 1925, enabling the robot 1925 to navigate about the room 1900 without bumping its head into door soffits, or other obstacles above the floor.

Now with renewed reference to FIG. 17, which illustrates an example of an occupancy grid 1700, the white portions indicate empty space—in other words space that has been determined by monocular-auxiliary sensor to be unoccupied. Portions in solid black indicate space that is occupied by an object or obstacle. The gray portions indicate space that the monocular-auxiliary sensor of robot 1925 has not yet determined whether these spaces are occupied or empty.

The descriptive point cloud 1945 and occupancy grid 1955 comprise a hybrid point grid that enables the robot 1925 to plan paths of travel through room 1900, using the occupancy grid 1955 and self-localize relative to features in the room 1900 using the descriptive point cloud 1945.

Using the Occupancy Grid and Path Planning

When the robot is activated in a previously mapped environment, the robot uses the technology described herein above in the Tracking sections to self-locate within the descriptive point cloud 1945. The descriptive point cloud 1945 and occupancy grid 1955 comprise a hybrid point grid representation that is key to enabling robot action (i.e. moving on the floor) using passive sensors because the robot uses the occupancy grid 1955 in order to plan a trajectory 1956 from its current location to another location in the map using the technology described herein above in the Mapping sections. A person or entity can also command the robot to go to a specific point in the occupancy grid 1955. While traveling, the robot uses the descriptive point cloud 1945 to localize itself within the map as described herein above in the Tracking sections. The robot can update the map using the techniques described herein above in the Mapping sections. Further, some implementations equipped with active sensors (e.g. sonar, LIDAR) can update the map using information from these sensors as well.

Processes

FIG. 20 is a representative method 2000 of guiding a mobile device using information from a camera with distance calculation and from the auxiliary sensors. Flowchart 2000 can be implemented at least partially with a computer or other data processing system, e.g., by one or more processors configured to receive or retrieve information, process the information, store results, and transmit the results. Other implementations may perform the actions in different orders and/or with different, fewer or additional actions than those illustrated in FIG. 20. Multiple actions can be combined in some implementations. For convenience, this flowchart is described with reference to the system that carries out a method. The system is not necessarily part of the method.

The method described in this section and other sections of the technology disclosed can include one or more of the following features and/or features described in connection with additional methods disclosed. In the interest of conciseness, the combinations of features disclosed in this application are not individually enumerated and are not repeated with each base set of features. The reader will understand how features identified in this method can readily be combined with sets of base features identified as implementations such as system overview, tracking, mapping, robot implementation, VR/AR implementation, etc.

FIG. 20 includes process 2000 that begins at action 2010, where image sets from a visual sensor are buffered. In some implementations, image sets are received from a visual sensor. The visual sensor is disposed on a mobile platform, such as a robot, autonomous vehicle, or other autonomous or guided mobile platform.

Process 2000 continues at action 2020 where measurements from auxiliary sensors are buffered. The auxiliary sensors can be collocated with the visual sensor or can be disposed at an offset thereto.

At action 2030, the sets of image data are received at a Control Unit. In an embodiment where a depth sensor is used as an auxiliary sensor, a depth map is also received at the Control Unit.

At action 2040, the sets of sensor data from the auxiliary sensors are received at the Control Unit.

At action 2050, the sets of sensor data from the auxiliary sensors are processed to estimate localization data. Inertial data from the multi-axis IMU are timestamped, corrected for bias, scaled using a stored scale factor the corrected inertial data, and then corrected for misalignment in the IMU to form localization data. Odometry data from the WOU are timestamped, adjusted for slippage, and then scaled using a stored scale factor the corrected odometry to form localization data.

At action 2050, imaging undistortion is performed on the sets of image data.

At action 2060, the localization data and the undistorted sets of image data are provided across a communications interface to a host controlling a mobile platform.

Other implementations of the method described in this section can include a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions executable by a processor to perform any of the methods described above. Yet another implementation of the method described in this section can include a system including memory and one or more processors operable to execute instructions, stored in the memory, to perform any of the methods described above.

FIG. 21 is a representative method 2100 of using a hybrid point grid to guide a mobile device that includes a camera with distance calculation and one or more auxiliary sensors. Flowchart 2100 can be implemented at least partially with a computer or other data processing system, e.g., by one or more processors configured to receive or retrieve information, process the information, store results, and transmit the results. Other implementations may perform the actions in different orders and/or with different, fewer or additional actions than those illustrated in FIG. 21. Multiple actions can be combined in some implementations. For convenience, this flowchart is described with reference to the system that carries out a method. The system is not necessarily part of the method.

The method described in this section and other sections of the technology disclosed can include one or more of the following features and/or features described in connection with additional methods disclosed. In the interest of conciseness, the combinations of features disclosed in this application are not individually enumerated and are not repeated with each base set of features. The reader will understand how features identified in this method can readily be combined with sets of base features identified as implementations such as system overview, tracking, mapping, robot implementation, VR/AR implementation, etc.

FIG. 21 includes process 2100 that begins at action 2110, where sets of image data are received. In some implementations, the sets of image data include feature points and pose information. The pose information includes a location of the mobile device and view of the camera that captured the image data. The sets of image data are referred to collectively as keyrigs.

Process 2100 continues at action 2120 where the keyrigs are reviewed to select keyrig content to include in a point cloud of features, based upon comparisons of keyrig content with content of other selected keyrigs subject to one or more intelligent thresholds. As used herein, intelligent thresholds includes a threshold that is adaptively adjusted based upon device movement, sensor readings, situational or environmental variables (e.g., low light, fog, bright light, and so forth) or combinations thereof.

At action 2130, for selected keyrigs, (a) new feature points in the keyrig are triangulated using feature points of keyrigs previously added to the point cloud of features to obtain feature points in a coordinate system of the device, and (b) coordinates of the feature points in the point cloud of features are aligned to a coordinate system having a z-axis aligned with gravity.

At action 2140, a multilayered hybrid point grid is created from the feature points selected for the point cloud of features, using at least one layer of a multilayered 2D occupancy grid by the following:

At action 2150, a 2D occupancy grid corresponding to one selected from a plurality of x-y layers covering the feature points in the point cloud of features is initialized.

At action 2160, at least one layer of the occupancy grid is populated with points from the point cloud of features within a height range using ray tracing from an observed location of a point in the keyrig aligned to a corresponding point in the occupancy grid and a location of a corresponding point reprojected on the layer of the occupancy grid.

At action 2170, cells along a ray between the aligned observed point and the corresponding point reprojected on the layer are found and the found cells are marked as empty.

At action 2180, responsive to receiving a command to travel to a location, the occupancy grid is used to plan a path of travel to a location commanded and contemporaneously the descriptive point cloud is used while traveling the planned path to avoid colliding with obstructions.

Other implementations of the method described in this section can include a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions executable by a processor to perform any of the methods described above. Yet another implementation of the method described in this section can include a system including memory and one or more processors operable to execute instructions, stored in the memory, to perform any of the methods described above.

CONCLUSION AND ADDITIONAL IMPLEMENTATIONS

We describe a system and various implementations for guiding a mobile device using information from one or more camera and one or more auxiliary sensors, e.g. multi-axis inertial measuring unit (IMU), wheel odometry unit (WOU), depth sensor, etc.

Some particular implementations and features are described in the following discussion.

In one implementation, described is an apparatus that guides a mobile device using information from one or more cameras with one or more auxiliary sensors. The apparatus can include a Digital Signal Processor (DSP) that receives image information in frames. In one implementation, images are at least 3 Megabytes (3 MB), arriving from a camera at a rate of at least 30 frames per second (FPS) via an Input/Output (I/O) interface and extracts features from the image information; a feature buffer that includes at least a first bank and a second bank to contain features extracted from the image information; a buffer controller that triggers a notification to consumer processes that features are available in at least one of the first bank and the second bank of the feature buffer; the capability of locking the first bank from further receiving features from the DSP while features from the first bank are being consumed by the consumer processes, once the first bank is filled; and one or more processing cores that executes the consumer processes, including a mapping process that builds a map as a guided vehicle explores and an update process that compares features to the map, and that provides output of one or more of the mapping process and the update process to a guided vehicle. In some implementations, the incoming image size is at least 2 MB. In some implementations, the incoming image size is at least 1 MB. In some implementations, the images may be arriving at the rate of 20 images per second through the Camera Serial Interface (CSI) I/O port.

In some implementations, the buffer controller includes a register to store a memory bank identifier of a currently filled bank and once a bank is filled, a memory bank identifier is written in the register and the buffer controller interrupts a processor; thereby notifying at least one of an update process and a mapping process that there are incoming new features.

In some implementations, the apparatus further includes the capability to clear the memory bank identifier corresponding to a currently filled bank while the DSP is writing to another bank.

In some implementations, the digital signal processor, the feature buffer, the buffer controller, and the one or more processing cores are embodied on a single chip.

In some implementations, the feature buffer includes banks to contain 2-5 KB of feature data per image frame. In some implementations, the feature buffer includes banks to contain 1-10 KB of feature data per image frame.

In some implementations, the apparatus further includes an interface to an inertial measurement unit (IMU) which encodes information from at least one of a gyroscopic sensor, an accelerometer; and wherein a propagation process consumes information from the IMU to prepare a result including a location and a perspective, including view direction, of the camera, referred to collectively as a pose and sends the result to the update process.

In some implementations, the apparatus further includes an interface to a sensor encoding odometry information; and wherein a propagation process consumes the odometry information to prepare a result including a location and a perspective, including view direction, of the camera, referred to collectively as a pose and sends the result to the update process.

In some implementations, the apparatus further includes an interface to a sensor encoding depth information for at least some pixels sensed by a camera; and wherein a propagation process consumes the depth information to prepare a result including a location and a perspective, including view direction, of the camera, referred to collectively as a pose and sends the result to the update process.

Also disclosed is an implementation that includes a method of guiding a mobile unit that includes a visual sensor having at least one operational camera and at least one auxiliary sensor. The auxiliary sensors can be selected from a multi-axis IMU, a wheel odometry sensor, a depth sensor, etc. The method further includes receiving a location of the mobile unit and perspective, including view direction, of a camera, referred to collectively as an initial pose; receiving from an auxiliary sensor, information indicating travel P_(l) including a rotational portion and a translational portion of movement of the mobile unit; while waiting for a new frame, between successive camera frames, updating the initial pose using information from the auxiliary sensor, to generate a propagated pose; extracting new features from the new frame; matching the new features extracted to retrieved feature points based on (1) reuse of matched features from a previous frame and (2) matching of features in the new frame with reprojected feature positions from a 3D map onto a 2D view from a perspective of the propagated pose, producing a list of matching features; determining a scale factor using information from translational portion of information from the auxiliary sensor and a translational portion of positions of matching features in the list of matching features, wherein a translational portion of positions of matching features describes a difference in perspective from which the new frame was viewed by the camera relative to a previous frame viewed by the camera; calculating a corrected pose P_(m) using the scale factor applied to at least a magnitude of translational portion of positions of matching features to determine a corrected pose; and providing guidance information based on one or both of the propagated pose and the corrected pose. In some implementations, the method is implemented in a system which includes a processor and a computer readable storage unit storing instructions. In some implementations, the method is implemented in a system which includes a non-transitory computer readable medium to store instructions.

In some implementations, the auxiliary sensor comprises a wheel odometry sensor, the method further including the capability to detect that at least one camera is experiencing impaired visibility, and whenever at least one camera is experiencing impaired visibility, using information from the wheel odometry sensor to determine the corrected pose whenever image information is unusable.

In some implementations, the method further includes the capability to detect that at least one camera is experiencing impaired visibility, and whenever at least one camera experiences impaired visibility, using information from the auxiliary sensor and previous images to determine the corrected pose whenever image information is unusable.

In some implementations, impaired visibility includes diminished light in a spectral area used by the camera.

In some implementations, impaired visibility includes a camera being obstructed.

In some implementations, the auxiliary sensor includes an IMU to determine information indicating travel to P_(l) including a rotational portion and a translational portion of movement of the mobile unit from IMU information by integrating at least one of linear acceleration and angular velocity.

In some implementations, the auxiliary sensor includes a wheel odometry sensor to determine information indicating travel to P_(l) including a rotational portion and a translational portion of movement of the mobile unit from odometry information of a rotary encoder coupled to a wheel, from a ratio of a circumference of the wheel to resolution of the rotary encoder.

In some implementations, the method further includes examining a new frame to use a criteria that includes: whether a count of 2D feature points of usable quality meets a threshold; whether a count of triangulated map points between a pairing of a propagated pose with a new image and a pairing of a current pose with an existing image meets a threshold; and to include the new frame that meets the threshold.

In some implementations, the mobile unit includes at least two auxiliary sensors, including a first auxiliary sensor comprising a multi-axis IMU and a second auxiliary sensor selected from (a wheel odometry sensor and a depth sensor). The mobile unit updates the initial pose using information from an IMU, and generates a first propagated pose, while waiting for a new frame, between successive camera frames; extracts new features from the new frame; determines a second propagated pose, updates the initial pose using information from a wheel odometer; determines an error between the first propagated pose and the second propagated pose; minimizes error of a translational portion of first and the second propagated poses and a rotational portion of first and the second propagated poses to find the corrected pose; and uses the corrected pose for guiding a robot.

In some implementations, the minimizing includes receiving an initial translational portion and rotational portion of first and second propagated poses having a first error; determining a new translational portion and rotational portion for first and second propagated poses having a second error; selecting one from the new translational portion and rotational portion and the initial translational portion and rotational portion based upon comparing the second error with the first error as a new initial translational portion and rotational portion of first and second propagated poses; and iteratively repeating the determining and selecting until a translational portion and rotational portion for first and second propagated poses achieves a minimum error criterion.

Further disclosed is an implementation that includes a method of guiding a mobile unit including a visual sensor having at least one operational camera and a depth sensor. The method includes receiving depth information from a depth sensor disposed at a position to sense depth information for features within a field of view of a camera; populating a table of depth values to pixel coordinates to calibrate the depth sensor to the camera; removing from images two dimensional features having no corresponding readings from the depth sensor; using the table of depth values, retrieving corresponding depth values for remaining two dimensional features; obtaining weighted average depth values for each remaining two dimensional feature; and populating a 3D map with remaining two dimensional features using the weighted average depth values; thereby providing a 3D map for guiding a mobile unit.

In some implementations, the method further includes tracking the mobile unit against the 3D map.

In some implementations, the method further includes adding additional poses by performing IMU propagation to obtain a baseline between a latest to-be-added pose and a properly chosen previous pose; and using depth information from the depth sensor to correct depth information for triangulated map points.

In some implementations, the method further includes using the depth information to determine additional 3D map points for 2D feature points which are not triangulated.

Other implementations include methods including performing the actions of the system, non-transitory machine readable storage media storing program logic implementing such methods, substituents and components thereof, and devices incorporating any or combinations of the foregoing.

In some implementations where an IMU is used as an auxiliary sensor, a motion sensor keeps a window of readings from the accelerometer of the IMU. The motion sensor computes the variance of the accelerations in the window of accelerator readings and determines whether the mobile unit is moving or static, based on the calculated variance. A variance greater than a predetermined threshold variance indicates the mobile unit is moving, and propagation is performed by using the EKF method. A variance smaller than a predetermined threshold variance indicates the mobile unit is static and propagation is performed by using the EKF method assuming zero velocity. The predetermined threshold variance can be estimated by various techniques as readily apparent to those skilled in the art.

In some implementations where an IMU is used as an auxiliary sensor, the image update from the camera in the mobile unit with one operational camera can fail due to a blurred image captured due to fast motion of the mobile unit, poor illumination in the surrounding environment, camera's viewpoint is being blocked by an object, etc. Also, there can be a significant number of IMU propagations between two successful image update. After a certain number of consecutive image update failures, propagation is performed by using the EKF method on the gyroscope reading of the IMU. Propagation based on the on the gyroscope reading of the IMU predicts a propagated pose by assuming the mobile unit is rotating in place.

In some implementations, the tracking can be entirely mapless by keeping a window of image frames during the tracking process. A 2D-2D feature matching correspondence is maintained by two consecutive image frames in the window of image frames. At any time, a small local map can be reconstructed by triangulating the 2D features.

In some implementations, 2D features matching from two consecutive image frames can be performed by combining corner feature detection and optical flow. Given the set of 2D features detected in the first image at time t−1, the location of each 2D feature in the second image at time t is estimated by using optical flow. If the number of 2D features detected through optical flow in the second image is less than the number of 2D features in the second image. The 2D corner features can be detected by using Eigen values of neighboring pixels or by binning the second image spatially. 2D features can be matched temporally between a first image taken at time t−1 and a second image taken at time t from the same camera by matching the 2D features by optical flow or establishing links between 2D features from consecutive time frames with similar description and location proximity (i.e., within 20 pixels).

In some implementations, if there is more than one operational camera, 2D features can be matched spatially through links. A link is set of 2D features from different cameras with different spatial viewpoints. 2D features can be matched spatially for each camera to existing links by collecting the set of 2D features that are not matched to any existing links (i.e. features that are left out from temporal matching), collecting the set of links that are available to be connected to features from this camera, and calculating the similarity between each available feature and each available link. The similarity between a feature and a link is the best similarity score between the descriptor of this feature and the descriptors of the features in the link. If the similarity score is more than a threshold, match the 2D feature to the link. If the similarity score is less than a threshold, check the similarity score of the 2D feature with another available link. New links can be created by collecting the set of features that are not matched to any existing links (i.e. features that are left out from both temporal matching and spatial matching to existing links), collecting the set of links that are available to be connected to features from the current camera (a link is available when it does not contain a feature from this camera at the current time), and calculating the similarity between each feature and each available link. If the similarity score is more than a threshold, add the available 2D feature to the available link. New links can be created across one or more camera by collecting a set of features that are not matched to any existing links, and calculating the similarity between a pair of 2D features from different.

The terms and expressions employed herein are used as terms and expressions of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention, in the use of such terms and expressions, of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof. In addition, having described certain implementations of the technology disclosed, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that other implementations incorporating the concepts disclosed herein can be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the technology disclosed. Accordingly, the described implementations are to be considered in all respects as only illustrative and not restrictive. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for guiding a mobile device, the apparatus including: a Digital Signal Processor (DSP) to receive image information in frames of at least 3 Megabytes (3 MB) from a camera at a rate of at least 30 frames per second (FPS) via an Input/Output (I/O) interface and extract features from the image information; a feature buffer including at least a first bank and a second bank to contain features extracted from the image information; a buffer controller to trigger a notification to consumer processes that features are available in at least one of the first bank and the second bank of the feature buffer; wherein once the first bank is filled, the first bank is locked to further features from the DSP while features from the first bank are being consumed by the consumer processes; and one or more processing cores to execute the consumer processes, including a mapping process that builds a map as a guided vehicle explores and an update process that compares features to the map, and to provide output of one or more of the mapping process and the update process to a guided vehicle.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the buffer controller includes a register to store a memory bank identifier of a currently filled bank; and wherein once a bank is filled, a memory bank identifier is written in the register and the buffer controller interrupts a processor; thereby notifying at least one of an update process and a mapping process that there are incoming new features.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, further including clearing the memory bank identifier corresponding to a currently filled bank while the DSP is writing to another bank.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the digital signal processor, the feature buffer, the buffer controller and the one or more processing cores are embodied on a single chip.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the feature buffer includes banks to contain 2-5 KB of feature data per image frame.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, further including an interface to an inertial measurement unit (IMU); encoding information from at least one of a gyroscopic sensor, an accelerometer; and wherein a propagation process consumes information from the IMU to prepare a result including a location and a perspective, including view direction, of the camera, referred to collectively as a pose and sends the result to the update process.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, further including an interface to a sensor encoding odometry information; and wherein a propagation process consumes the odometry information to prepare a result including a location and a perspective, including view direction, of the camera, referred to collectively as a pose and sends the result to the update process.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, further including an interface to a sensor encoding depth information for at least some pixels sensed by a camera; and wherein a propagation process consumes the depth information to prepare a result including a location and a perspective, including view direction, of the camera, referred to collectively as a pose and sends the result to the update process.
 9. A method of guiding a mobile unit including a visual sensor having at least one operational camera and at least one auxiliary sensor, including one or more selected from (a multi-axis IMU, a wheel odometry sensor and a depth sensor), the method including: receiving a location of the mobile unit and perspective, including view direction, of a camera, referred to collectively as an initial pose; receiving from an auxiliary sensor, information indicating travel P_(l) including a rotational portion and a translational portion of movement of the mobile unit; while waiting for a new frame, between successive camera frames, updating the initial pose using information from the auxiliary sensor, to generate a propagated pose; extracting new features from the new frame; matching the new features extracted to retrieved feature points based on (1) reuse of matched features from a previous frame and (2) matching of features in the new frame with reprojected feature positions from a 3D map onto a 2D view from a perspective of the propagated pose, producing a list of matching features; determining a scale factor using information from translational portion of information from the auxiliary sensor and a translational portion of positions of matching features in the list of matching features, wherein a translational portion of positions of matching features describes a difference in perspective from which the new frame was viewed by the camera relative to a previous frame viewed by the camera; calculating a corrected pose P_(m) using the scale factor applied to at least a magnitude of translational portion of positions of matching features to determine a corrected pose; and providing guidance information based on one or both of the propagated pose and the corrected pose.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the auxiliary sensor comprises a wheel odometry sensor, the method further including detecting that at least one camera is experiencing impaired visibility, and whenever at least one camera experiences impaired visibility, using information from the wheel odometry sensor to determine the corrected pose whenever image information is unusable.
 11. The method of claim 9, the method further including detecting that at least one camera is experiencing impaired visibility, and whenever at least one camera experiences impaired visibility, using information from the auxiliary sensor and previous images to determine the corrected pose whenever image information is unusable.
 12. The method of claim 10, wherein impaired visibility includes diminished light in a spectral area used by the camera.
 13. The method of claim 10, wherein impaired visibility includes a camera being obstructed.
 14. The method of claim 9, wherein the auxiliary sensor includes an IMU, the method further including: determining information indicating travel to P_(l) including a rotational portion and a translational portion of movement of the mobile unit from IMU information by integrating at least one of linear acceleration and angular velocity.
 15. The method of claim 9, wherein the auxiliary sensor includes a wheel odometry sensor, the method further including: determining information indicating travel P_(l) including a rotational portion and a translational portion of movement of the mobile unit from odometry information of a rotary encoder coupled to a wheel, from a ratio of a circumference of the wheel to resolution of the rotary encoder.
 16. The method of claim 9, further including: examining a new frame using a criteria that includes: whether a count of 2D feature points of usable quality meets a threshold; whether a count of triangulated map points between a pairing of a propagated pose with a new image and a pairing of a current pose with an existing image meets a threshold; and including the new frame that meets the threshold.
 17. The method of claim 9, wherein the mobile unit including at least two auxiliary sensors, including a first auxiliary sensor comprising a multi-axis IMU and a second auxiliary sensor selected from (a wheel odometry sensor and a depth sensor), the method further including: while waiting for a new frame, between successive camera frames, updating the initial pose using information from an IMU, to generate a first propagated pose; extracting new features from the new frame; determining a second propagated pose, updating the initial pose using information from a wheel odometer; determining an error between the first propagated pose and the second propagated pose; minimizing error of a translational portion of first and the second propagated poses and a rotational portion of first and the second propagated poses to find the corrected pose; and using the corrected pose for guiding a robot.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the minimizing includes: receiving an initial translational portion and rotational portion of first and second propagated poses having a first error; determining a new translational portion and rotational portion for first and second propagated poses having a second error; selecting one from the new translational portion and rotational portion and the initial translational portion and rotational portion based upon comparing the second error with the first error as a new initial translational portion and rotational portion of first and second propagated poses; and iteratively repeating the determining and selecting until a translational portion and rotational portion for first and second propagated poses achieves a minimum error criterion.
 19. A system including a processor and a computer readable storage unit storing instructions that when executed by the processor perform the method of claim
 9. 20. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions that when executed by a processor perform a method of claim
 9. 21. A method of guiding a mobile unit including a visual sensor having at least one operational camera and a depth sensor, including: receiving depth information from a depth sensor disposed at a position to sense depth information for features within a field of view of a camera; populating a table of depth values to pixel coordinates to calibrate the depth sensor to the camera; removing from images two dimensional features having no corresponding readings from the depth sensor; using the table of depth values, retrieving corresponding depth values for remaining two dimensional features; obtaining weighted average depth values for each remaining two dimensional feature; and populating a 3D map with remaining two dimensional features using the weighted average depth values; thereby providing a 3D map for guiding a mobile unit.
 22. The method of claim 21, further including: tracking the mobile unit against the 3D map.
 23. The method of claim 22, further including: adding additional poses by performing imu propagation to obtain a baseline between a latest to-be-added pose and a properly chosen previous pose; and using depth information from the depth sensor to correct depth information for triangulated map points.
 24. The method of claim 23, further including: for 2D feature points which are not triangulated, using the depth information to determine additional 3D map points. 